Government departments urged to cut expenses to address fiscal deficit

Governmental departments should cut expenses by themselves to alleviate the fiscal deficit, said lawmaker Peter Shiu Ka-fai. 

Speaking on a radio program Thursday, Shiu said that government bureaux should utilize manpower while saving costs based on their financial situation.

For example, the health authorities are still deploying six to seven staff members at each border checkpoint to check cross-border travelers’ body temperature even after the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“The staffers told me they were in charge of checking if any traveler is having a fever. But even if they do have a fever, the staffers would only remind them to see a doctor,” Shiu said, questioning whether it is still necessary to deploy so many health officers at the border after the pandemic.

He also said that the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department could reduce the frequency of street cleaning. 

“They would still clean the streets with pressure washers even on rainy days. Is it really necessary to hire a group of people for that?” he asked.

Shiu said that the government invested in technology to save manpower but has continued to increase positions, resulting in no reduction in expenses and neglected social welfare. 

“I believe Hongkongers would prefer the government to spend their expenses on improving social welfare, education, and medication,” Shiu said.

“If there is no other solution for the financial deficit, the requirements for the HK$2 public transport fare concession scheme for the elderly might be adjusted,” he added. 

The government may consider canceling the eligibility for those aged 60 to 64 in the scheme and addressing the issue of elderly people taking short rides on long-distance routes with just HK$2, he said.

(Henry Siu)