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Police get record HK$180 million in donations — with one-third spent on refreshments

蘋果日報 2020/12/15 06:45


Hong Kong police received a record HK$180 million (US$23.2 million) in public donations during the financial year ended March 31, 26 times more than the previous year as anti-government protests spurred supporters and Beijing loyalists to dig deep.
Spending by the Police Welfare Fund almost doubled from last year to HK$114 million, with more than HK$64.8 million going on “refreshments for officers on special duties” — 52 times the sum spent the previous year, according to the fund’s annual report submitted to the Legislative Council on Monday.
The trajectory of donations has tracked social unrest in recent times: In the year before 2014′s Umbrella Movement, the fund received about HK$9.8 million; that shot up to HK$53.5 million in the following 12 months.  And now donations increased dramatically again after the largest unrest the city has seen since its 1997 handover to China was sparked by the now-withdrawn extradition bill.
The report did not disclose the identity of donors, but a review of news reports showed that many donations came from Beijing loyalists. Last summer, Friends of Hong Kong Association, whose members include former Chief Executives Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying as well as former Chief Secretary Henry Tang, donated HK$10 million to the police fund. A number of pro-Beijing organizations have each donated more than HK$1 million.
The surge in donations has seen the fund’s net asset value jump 40% to HK$259 million over the past financial year.
Greater transparency was needed to allay public concern that the police would favor those who have made significant donations, said Icarus Wong, founder of Civil Rights Observer.
While it was understandable that certain donors would want to remain anonymous, the police should disclose the size and date of any donation, said former lawmaker Bottle Shiu.
The Police Welfare Fund provides financial assistance and support to officers, former officers, their dependants, as well as families of deceased officers. It also pays for amenities for their enjoyment, according to the Police Force Ordinance.
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