Annual cost of Lam's Pacific Place office soars 32pc to $9m

The recurrent expenditure of former Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's office in Pacific Place in Admiralty has increased significantly by 32 percent compared to the previous year, totaling over HK$9 million.

The government has informed lawmakers that Lam attended over 700 events in the past two years after stepping down from her role as the city's leader.

The largest portion of the expenditure is attributed to the rent for the office, which costs taxpayers over HK$5.6 million.

Following the completion of their terms, the government sets up offices for Hong Kong's chief executives, allowing them to carry out various activities such as receiving visiting dignitaries and delegations, giving media interviews and participating in speaking engagements.

However, due to the fully occupied Central Office, which can only accommodate three former chief executives, an additional office has been established at Pacific Place, a luxury mall in Admiralty, to provide administrative support to Lam.

In response to lawmaker Dominic Lee Tsz-king's inquiry, the Wing stated that the revised estimate for Lam's office's recurrent expenditure for 2023-24 is about HK$9.17 million.

Apart from the significant rent and related expenses, which account for 60 percent of expenditures, the office also allocated HK$2.86 million for staff remuneration and staff-related expenses.

"This includes personnel such as a senior personal assistant, an assistant clerical officer, a chauffeur and a staff member responsible for daily reception duties," the office said.

Also, HK$640,000 was spent on other daily operating expenses. There were no non-recurrent expenditures for that year.

In 2022-23, the recurrent expenditure for Lam's office was around HK$6.95 million, with rent and related expenses constituting the largest portion at HK$4.43 million.

The non-recurrent expenditure for that year was about HK$6.55 million, primarily designated for renovation works, including furniture and equipment procurement.

Records indicate that Lam attended over 700 promotional or protocol-related functions in her capacity as the former chief executive during the past two years.

In response to lawmaker Paul Tse Wai-chun's inquiry regarding the possibility of utilizing the former CE's Office at Central more efficiently to accommodate an additional office and thus save on renting a Grade A commercial building, the Wing said: "The Central Office can only accommodate a maximum of three former chief executives and no space is available to establish a fourth office."

The Wing reiterated its commitment to providing suitable office accommodation and administrative support for all former chief executives, considering the actual circumstances to facilitate their performance of promotional and protocol-related functions for Hong Kong.

However, the Wing acknowledged that it has not maintained records of the respective utilization rates of the offices in Central and Admiralty.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com