Why Hong Kong police got HK$180 million in donations last year, and spent nearly HK$65 million on food
- Total spending nearly tripled to HK$114.36 million as fund supported officers battling civil unrest in city
- Refreshments for police saw biggest increase, while fund moved out of the red with surplus of nearly HK$74 million
The Hong Kong police’s welfare fund received nearly HK$180 million (US$23 million) in donations over the past year, more than 26 times that of the previous year, according to documents to be presented by the force to the city’s legislature.
According to the Police Welfare Fund annual report for the financial year of 2019-20, overall spending also nearly tripled to HK$114.36 million, with the expenditure for “refreshments for police officers on special duties” seeing the biggest increase to HK$64.85 million, 52 times more than the previous year, when only HK$1.22 million was spent.
But the annual report, to be presented to the Legislative Council at its meeting on Wednesday, did not include information on donors, nor did it go into detail on each of the items listed.
Established under the Police Force Ordinance, the fund’s main purpose is to provide amenities for the enjoyment of officers, former officers and their dependents. It also makes loans, grants, allowances and gifts to them and the families of deceased officers.
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Some 95 per cent of the fund’s income comes from donations, with the rest from bank interest, the hire of police services and the sale of souvenirs.
