政壇：睇社論學英文：社區項目淪政績 勿為花錢而花錢

在現行制度下，區議會的職能及資源有限，地區建設多由政府部門主導，以致不少地區工程脫離居民的實際需要。施政報告宣布預留二十億元推展「社區重點項目」，每個區議會獲「派糖」一億元，靈活運用撥款，打破目前發展項目需要經過官僚制度多重審批的掣肘，加快工程進度，為居民提供迫切需要的設施及服務，構想無疑是好的。

然而，一億元說多不多，說少也不少，這筆錢在區議會手中如何發揮最大效益，如何切合市民需要，實在是很大的考驗。利益當前，為防止有人上下其手、中飽私囊，當局必須從嚴把關，做好項目的審批及監管工作。

此外，當局規定各區議會須於今年三月底前訂出項目清單，並盡量於現屆區議會任期屆滿前，即二○一五年年底前完成。在這麼短的時間內，區議會是否真能提出好的建議，會不會為了用盡撥款亂提項目而造成不必要的浪費，都不能不令人質疑。萬一出現大量得物無所用的「大白象」工程，將對庫房造成沉重而長遠的負擔。

改善社區，人人樂見，但不能操之過急，做好審批及監管工作必不可少。否則，好事也可能變成壞事，重點工程隨時淪為污點工程！

For“signature projects”, District Councils should not spend money for its own sake

Under the present system, District Councils are limited in their functions and resources. As most of the district projects are Government-led, many of them are divorced from the real needs of local residents. The Policy Address announces that $2 billion will be earmarked for district “signature projects”, which means each District Council will receive a “sweetener” of $100 million. This is undoubtedly a good idea because the funding can then be used flexibly without the bureaucratic constraints of multiple levels of vetting and approval; district projects will be sped up to cater to residents’ urgent needs for facilities and services.

While $100 million is not a colossal sum of money, it is, however, not small either. How District Councils spend it most effectively to meet the needs of their residents is indeed a huge challenge. In face of such a handsome amount, the Government must be vigilant in its screening and monitoring of the district projects in order to prevent embezzlement.

District Councils are required to draw up a project list before the end of March and try their best to complete these projects before their term expires at the end of 2015. Within such a short period of time, are the District Councils able to come up with truly good proposals? Will they be squandering money unnecessarily just to use up the funds? These questions have to be asked. If the initiative ends up with loads of “white elephants”, the public coffer will have to bear a heavy and long-lasting burden.

Everybody would love to see improvements to their districts, but this should not be done in haste. Examination and approval procedures must be administered properly. Otherwise, a good idea may turn sour and signature projects can be reduced to tainted projects anytime!

重要生字

spend money for its own sake 為花錢而花錢

be divorced from 脫離

embezzlement 中飽私囊