Hong Kong lawmaker denies minister’s claim axing student subsidy was discussed

Hong Kong’s finance chief has crossed swords with lawmakers over the decision to axe a HK$2,500 (US$320) grant given annually to nearly 800,000 students, with the legislator for the educational functional constituency refuting the government’s claims the sector had been consulted over the move.

At least four lawmakers expressed disapproval over the decision to scrap the measure during a Legislative Council Finance Committee meeting with Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Thursday. The move was part of cost-cutting measures unveiled the day before in Chan’s annual budget to reign in the HK$87.2 billion deficit.

They said the move might affect the students’ studies and asked whether there was any room for negotiation. But Chan stood firm, saying the decision was made after the Education Bureau communicated with the sector.

“We let every bureau’s and department’s head ministers decide how the cut should be implemented after they considered their actual situation. During the process, I know the Education Bureau communicated with some representatives in the education field in the Legislative Council,” he said, without giving any names.

“Slashing spending would no doubt impact stakeholders to some extent. Considering the tight budget, I call for more understanding.”

In a statement issued hours after the morning Legco meeting, lawmaker Chu Kwok-keung, who represents the sector, denied any such communication had taken place.

“Authorities, including but not limited to the Education Bureau, have never consulted me on the abolition of student subsidies. In previous formal and informal contacts, authorities never mentioned the abolition of the student grant,” he said.