Source: The Standard Author: K Sin 03/24/2009
Subject Concerned: Government Opinion Airport
I have been following with interest the many letters that have appeared in this column criticizing the wastage by the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and the call for the scandalous waste of taxpayers' money to be stopped.
Yet I have not seen one response from the airport or the government bureau responsible for the airport. They are immune to public sentiments and it seems they strongly believe they can do what they want.
Who is responsible for the affairs of the airport? Surely it is built with taxpayers' money and the government cannot shrug its responsibility.
If US President Barack Obama can quickly introduce legislation that will in effect force bankers to return bonuses paid from government bailout money, the Hong Kong government can do something if it wants to.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has pushed back the consultation on democratic reforms on the weak excuse that he can only handle one thing at one time, this time the financial tsunami.
The wastage of public funds is partly to do with finance: Obama introduced new laws to protect public funds. Why can't our government just exercise the power it has? What a shame.