Exclusive: Hong Kong government spent over HK$31 million on China’s National Day displays
Hong Kong Free Press
The Hong Kong government spent more than HK$31 million on festive displays to celebrate China’s National Day last month.
More than 120,000 festive items displayed at around 3,000 locations across the city to mark the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1 cost HK$31.2 million taxpayers’ money, the Home Affairs Department told HKFP on Thursday evening.
It took almost two months for the government to provide details after HKFP filed its initial enquiry in late September.
Over HK$10 million of public funds was spent on more than 70,000 Chinese national and Hong Kong flags displayed across the city, while banners and stickers cost HK$8.7 million.
Other decorations included lighting, lamppost bunting, large installations and LED displays.
| Type of festive display | Amount (HK$ million) |
| National and regional flags | 10.8 |
| Banners and stickers | 8.7 |
| Posters | 0.4 |
| Lamppost bunting | 2.3 |
| LED displays | 0.1 |
| Flower displays | 0.5 |
| Lighting | 7.0 |
| Large installations | 1.4 |
| Total spending | 31.2 |
HKFP first enquired about the cost of National Day decorations with the Chief Secretary for Administration’s Office on September 29. The previous day, Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing shared on Facebook that over 70,000 number national and regional flags would be displayed for National Day, compared with 5,000 flags used to mark the anniversary of Hong Kong’s Handover to Chinese rule on July 1.
The enquiry was referred to the Home Affairs Department, which told HKFP on the same day that the costs of the displays were “absorbed by respective bureaux and departments from within their existing resources according to the principle of fiscal prudence.”
HKFP followed up with an access to information request to the government on October 4. The government said on October 13 that it was unable to provide the information requested at that stage, adding it would consult the bureaux and departments concerned.
The Home Affairs Department wrote in an email on October 24 that the information request involved consultation with numerous bureaus and departments and thus a longer processing time was needed. They access to information team could not supply the information requested within the target response time of 21 days, it wrote.
The details of the amount the government spent on this year’s National Day festive displays were eventually provided on Thursday.
Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact Us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps
Help safeguard press freedom & keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team
HKFP has an impartial stance, transparent funding, and balanced coverage guided by an Ethics Code and Corrections Policy.
Support press freedom & help us surpass 1,000 monthly Patrons: 100% independent, governed by an ethics code & not-for-profit.
HKFP Dim Sum is a weekly email summary of our best content sent every Saturday and Monday. Unsubscribe at any time. We will not share your details with third parties.