Politics
Tsim Sha Tsui District Council Approves 2026-27 Budget Allocation Under District Improvement Scheme, Matching Yau Tsim Mong Neighbours
Tsim Sha Tsui residents will see HK$2.3 million redirected from new signage projects to footpath repairs and market stall upgrades starting October.
How we reported this
The Tsim Sha Tsui District Council voted 11 to 4 on 7 July to adopt the 2026-27 spending plan under the District Improvement Scheme, directing funds toward maintenance of existing public facilities rather than new installations, a choice that matches the allocation pattern already set by councils in Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok.
The vote follows the Home Affairs Bureau circular issued in May that requires all 18 district councils to submit spending plans aligned with the same four priority categories, a requirement introduced after the Legislative Council passed amendments to the District Councils Ordinance in late 2025.
Effects on daily movement and market access
Residents who walk between the Star Ferry pier and the MTR station will notice crews repairing cracked pavement sections along Salisbury Road by November, while stall holders inside the Tsim Sha Tsui Wet Market can apply for grants to replace ageing refrigeration units before the Lunar New Year rush.
The Home Affairs Department recorded 2,347 district-level projects completed across Hong Kong in the 2024-25 financial year, with Kowloon districts averaging HK$7.8 million per council on footpath and market works; Tsim Sha Tsui's approved plan places it within HK$300,000 of that average.
Timetable for rollout and reporting
Works orders will be issued to the Highways Department by the end of August, with the first progress report due at the council's October meeting and quarterly updates posted on the district office website.
Any unspent funds at the end of March 2027 must be returned to the central pool for reallocation to other districts that meet the same scheme criteria.