Community Centres Plan 'uneven But Not Unfair'

The chairman of the Elderly Commission, Lam Ching-choi, has denied that the government is being unfair to certain districts, in its $20 billion plan to buy properties over the next three years and turn them into community service centres.

Some district representatives, such as those in Tai Po, have complained that they have only been allocated a handful of these new facilities, despite heavy demand and the relatively large population in their districts.

But on Saturday, Lam, who's also an executive councillor, said the uneven distribution of the 158 new facilities is only natural.

"Demand is obviously one of the important factors, but the number of existing services is also another one. Even when the government wants to purchase facilities, whether there are available ones will be an important factor," he said.

"Maybe after considering all this we will see some uneven distribution but I believe it is quite natural.

"If eventually we can provide adequate services to every district it won't be unfair," he said. "So there's the mix of purchased facilities, and the facilities that were planned a long time ago."

But Sze Lai-shan from the Society for Community Organisation says the government should rethink the distribution of the new facilities. She says for example, it plans to set up three childcare centres in Sai Kung - when similar services in that district aren't fully used; and many well-off families there can afford to hire domestic helpers.

She said this contrasts to the situation in districts such as Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong, where childcare centres are all full.