WK LO's LegCo Express (May 2019)
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W K LO's LegCo Express
May 2019
1. Funding proposals approved in the PWSC and the FC in May
On 14 May, the PWSC approved a funding request of HK$0.389 billion to carry out the third package of the construction of public infrastructure works to support the early phases of West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) development especially the Artist Square Development Area and HK$17.47 billion to carry out the remaining works of the Integrated Basement (IB) in Zone 2 of WKCD. Another funding request of HK$0.77 billion was approved to carry out the design and construction of the first stage of desalination plant at Tseung Kwan O.
On 17 May, the PWSC approved an allocation of HK$4.27 billion to provide an additional District Cooling System at the Kai Tak Development to meet an increase in the projected cooling demand.
On 25 May, the PWSC passed a funding request of HK$0.55 billion to conduct studies related to the phased reclamation for the formation of artificial islands in the central waters between the Hong Kong Island and Lantau (the Central Waters) to alleviate the acute shortage of land.
On 17 May, the Finance Committee approved a funding request of HK$6.8 billion for the construction of the Immigration Headquarters in Area 67, Tseung Kwan O.
2. Visited Heung Yuen Wai Highway and attended the Heung Yuen Wai Highway Opening Ceremony
Together with some other LegCo members, I visited the Heung Yuen Wai Highway, connecting the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point with the Fanling Highway, on 21 May to learn about the latest progress of construction and the preparation work for the commissioning of the Highway. Members first visited the 4.8 km long Lung Shan Tunnel, the longest land-based road tunnel in Hong Kong, and received a briefing on the construction of the Heung Yuen Wai Highway and Lung Shan Tunnel as well as the traffic arrangements upon their commissioning. On 26 May, I attended the Heung Yuen Wai Highway opening ceremony and joined other officiating guests on the stage.
3. Received the petition letter from the construction industry
Together with the Chairman of the Finance Committee and the Hon. Abraham SHEK Lai-him, I received a petition letter from the representatives of the Construction Industry on 10 May. We listened to their concerns over filibustering in the LegCo. They complained that the slow approval of public works projects has affected the industry and workers’ livelihood, and expressed strongly that filibustering disrupts LegCo’s normal operations and jeopardizes social order, and should be stopped.
4. Bills Committee on Franchised Taxi Services Bill
The Franchised Taxi Services Bill was published in the Gazette on 26 April 2019 and introduced into the Legislative Council on 8 May 2019. The Bill seeks to establish a new regulatory regime to confer on the Chief Executive the powers to grant and administer the franchises for franchised taxi service in Hong Kong. I joined the Bills Committee in June.
5. Appointed a member of the Airport Authority Hong Kong
I am pleased to be appointed a member of the Airport Authority Hong Kong from 1 June 2019 to 31 May 2022.
