Advertisement
Energy
Hong KongHealth & Environment

Spend public money on clean energy projects, not subsidised power bills, Hong Kong opposition lawmakers say

Government proposal to spend HK$8.7 billion subsidising electricity bills questioned at meeting of Legislative Council economic development panel

3-MIN READ3-MIN
The government wants to subsidise thousands of residents’ electricity bills in order to help low-income families. Photo: David Wong
Ernest Kao

Hong Kong lawmakers on Wednesday questioned the logic behind a government proposal to spend HK$8.7 billion (US$1.2 billion) subsidising residents’ electricity bills over the next five years rather than using public money to upgrade the city’s “smart energy” energy infrastructure.

Wu Chi-wai, chairman of the opposition Democratic Party, said the money could be used to pay for two major projects that the city’s two power suppliers are undertaking in the next few years, lessening the need for the firms to increase electricity tariffs in the first place.

His suggestion came at a meeting of the Legislative Council economic development panel to discuss five-year development plans submitted by the two power firms which were approved by the Executive Council on Tuesday.
Advertisement
The two power firms – CLP Power and HK Electric – told the government on Wednesday that to meet the city’s emissions targets and use cleaner but more expensive natural gas in power generation, users would have to pay about 3.5 per cent and 2.8 per cent more in net tariffs, excluding rebates, up to 2023.

CLP and HKE will be forking out HK$52.9 billion and HK$26.6 billion in capital expenditure over the next five years.

Advertisement
Wu Chi-wai said the money could be better spent. Photo: Dickson Lee
Wu Chi-wai said the money could be better spent. Photo: Dickson Lee
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x