Politics
Tsim Sha Tsui Community Services Levy Referendum to Shape Local Welfare Access
Voters in Tsim Sha Tsui will decide whether to approve a services levy adjustment that would direct additional revenue to district programs serving families, seniors and youth near Nathan Road and the waterfront.
How we reported this
The Tsim Sha Tsui District Council placed a referendum on the September 2026 ballot that asks residents to approve a 0.5 percent adjustment to the local services levy, with proceeds required to support expanded community services within the district boundaries.
Current Pressures on District Facilities
District records show Tsim Sha Tsui recorded 312,000 resident visits to council-run community centres in the 2024-25 financial year, a figure that has risen steadily since 2022. The referendum question stems from a council resolution passed in March 2026 that identified shortfalls in funding for after-school programs and elderly day-care slots at sites including the Tsim Sha Tsui Community Hall and the Canton Road Social Services Centre.
Residents living in the area bounded by Salisbury Road and Austin Road would see the levy appear on their rates notices if approved, with the council required to publish annual spending reports that list exact allocations to individual programs.
Budget Figures and Implementation Timeline
The council's March 2026 proposal document projects that the levy adjustment would produce HK$4.8 million in the first full year, an amount the legislation states must be spent on community services rather than general administration. The same document lists three priority categories: additional places at elderly centres, extended operating hours at youth facilities and subsidies for low-income households using district food assistance points.
Ballots will be counted on the evening of 12 September 2026 at the district council offices on Peking Road. If passed, the new rate takes effect on 1 April 2027, with the first quarterly transfer of funds scheduled for July 2027.