Hong Kong‘s new Budget is out and the government has disclosed for the first Time the cost of national security, involving HK$8 billion. This is the first time since the “Hong Kong National Security Law” came into effect, the Hong Kong government disclosed the relevant budget. With a starting salary of about $11,300 per month for a Shenzhen public security officer, $8 billion can employ about 59,000 public security officers per year.
This reporter checked the “Summary of Estimates of Expenditure” of the budget, there is no expenditure related to the National Security Law, compiled as a separate expenditure head; and the expenditure head of the Police Department, there is no mention of any expenditure related to the National Security Department.
With a starting monthly salary of about $11,300 for a Shenzhen public security officer, $8 billion could employ about 59,000 public security officers per year. (Photo by Cantonese Group)
But the last part of the document has a special note, the Hong Kong Government to maintain national security spending, “According to the Hong Kong National Security Law, with the approval of the Chief Executive, the Financial Secretary shall, from the general revenue, allocate special funds to pay for the expenditure on the maintenance of national security and approve the staffing involved, without being subject to the relevant provisions of the laws in force in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. This appropriation of $8 billion is the aforementioned earmarked sum to cover expenses relating to the maintenance of national security in the coming years.”
In other words, if the population of Hong Kong is about 7.5 million, each Hong Kong citizen contributes more than HK$1,000 to the $8 billion national security cost.
8 billion can employ about 59,000 public security officers per year
The outside world is concerned about how the $ 8 billion national security costs are formulated and how much is actually available? Compared to the latest expenditure budget of the Hong Kong disciplined forces this year, there are 30,000 people compiled by the Police Department for 25.06 billion (an increase of 7.7% over last year’s 23.26 billion). 10,000 people compiled by the Fire Services Department budget of 7.9 billion; 7,000 people Customs and Excise Department for 5.39 billion; 6,500 people Correctional Services Department for 4.7 billion. However, because the $8 billion national security costs are “future years” of expenditure, it is difficult to single comparison.
A number of reporters asked Financial Secretary Paul Chan about the specific expenditure of $8 billion, but he did not disclose. As the “National Security Law” Article 16, the police department to maintain the national security sector can be hired from outside Hong Kong, if the Chinese law enforcement officers estimated that a Shenzhen public security monthly salary of about 11,300 yuan, 8 billion yuan a year can be employed about 59,000 Shenzhen public security.
Liu Ruishao: It is to create intimidation to the public
Hong Kong current affairs commentator Liu Ruishao pointed out to this station, in the absence of real supervision and constraints, it is difficult to know the use of $8 billion, the mainland has never disclosed the national security expenses, and the annual cost of maintaining stability are higher than the military, I believe the authorities are ruled by the mainland, the concept of national security moved to Hong Kong. He also believes that the first announcement of the national security expenses, is to create intimidation to the public.
Liu Ruishao said: because it is not transparent, the money is how the government, is the Hong Kong police National Security Division with? Or the mainland’s Office of State Security with? No one knows, but in the case of Hong Kong or China’s political structure, it must be mixed together.
We just need to have a concept, that is, the original it spent more money to deal with the people than to deal with foreign countries, there is no way to refine how much money it used, because this is the thinking of the feudal dynasty.
Lin He Li: estimated 8 billion mainly paid to Beijing staff in Hong Kong
Another Hong Kong current affairs commentator, Lin He Li, believes that the expenses of renting hotels, paying salaries and buying tools are added up, so it is indeed possible to involve 8 billion, showing that there are many people in this department.
The Central Government’s Office of State Security in Hong Kong rents the Vantage Hotel in Causeway Bay as a temporary office.
Lin He Li said: the group of people stationed in Hong Kong is not only to do some work related to national security surveillance, but also will pay attention to foreign consulates in Hong Kong, foreign governments, especially the U.S. government news agencies, to detect some of them think that anti-China chaos in Hong Kong elements.
The budget does not disclose the details of the national security fee, including whether the fee will be paid to the Hong Kong police national security department personnel or mainland national security personnel in Hong Kong. Lam Wo-li estimated that, according to the general logic, the salaries or work costs of the Hong Kong Police National Security Service personnel should be allocated to the police force expenses, and the $8 billion will be paid mainly to the Beijing-based personnel in Hong Kong.
Paul Chan: 8 billion national security expenses absolutely open and transparent
The Financial Secretary of Hong Kong, Mr. Paul Chan, read out the Budget on Wednesday (24), without mentioning the “stability maintenance expenses” related to the Hong Kong National Security Law, which was questioned as an intentional concealment. He was repeatedly asked about the details at the press conference, he said the budget includes how much manpower is needed, the establishment, and has been approved by the Chief Executive, he himself also participated in the process, but not to disclose other details.
Paul Chan said: this expenditure has actually been paid, earlier in the first quarter of February accounts, in fact, have seen, is absolutely open, transparent, where it is very clearly listed.
Mr. Chan also mentioned that the $8 billion allocation is several years of expenditure, but did not disclose how many years involved. In addition, he was asked twice whether he “loves the party”, Paul Chan did not respond.
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