Mutual aid committees 'on chopping block'

The government plans to disband all mutual aid committees starting July, sources said, but former district councillors said losing these district bodies might make it even harder for citizens to participate in public affairs.

Mutual aid committees were established in the 1970s in private and public housing estates, aimed at promoting a sense of community and responsibility among members as well as to develop better security and more effective management within the buildings.

Sources said the government decided to gradually disband all 1,663 mutual aid committees starting in July as they found relationships within neighborhoods and the mode of building management has changed.

The government already has a lot of channels to communicate with citizens, sources said, and "there are opinions within the community" suggesting that the role of mutual aid committees is diminishing. But former Wong Tai Sin district councillor Shum Wan-wa questioned if there is a political agenda behind the move.

Mutual aid committees were dominated by the pro-establishment camp in the past, but the pro-democracy camp has now claimed a majority, therefore "we cannot rule out the government dissolving committees out of political reasons."

Shum said the disbandment "will give an impression that the government does not encourage citizens to take part in politics or the management of public affairs, which is not ideal."

Tsuen Wan district council chairman Sumly Chan Yuen-sum said these mutual aid committees only reflect estate management advisory committees and are responsible for organizing fundraising activities for charities.

"I cannot see any political element within these committees," Chan said. "Their every meeting is talking about livelihood matters. Why the government has to dissolve these organizations ... I really cannot understand."

But Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong lawmaker and Kwun Tong district councillor, Frankie Ngan Man-yu, said the functions of these committees have overlapped with district councillors and area committees, therefore their dissolution will not have too large an impact.

There were 1,663 mutual aid committees as of last July, and most are in public rental housing estates.

According to a Legislative Council document in 2009, the government offers a quarterly subsidy of HK$1,000 through the Home Affairs Department.