WK LO's LegCo Express (Sept 2019)
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W K LO's LegCo Express
Sept 2019
1. Participated in a forum on supporting SMEs to cope with economic challenges
On 13 Sept, I participated in a forum on supporting SMEs to cope with current economic challenges. The Government has announced a series of support measures earlier to help SMEs to survive under various operational difficulties that they are facing. In order to help SMEs understand the details of the relevant policies, representatives from the Government, banking and financial sectors were invited to explain the measures to SMEs covering details of the schemes and the application procedures. In the forum, I expressed that besides financial supports, the SMEs in the construction sector wish the Government could roll out more public works projects.
2. Urged the Government to rebuild the old public rental housing estates
On 24 Sept, together with some other LegCo members, we explained to the media our proposal to the Government about rebuilding old public rental housing estates. The report has identified nineteen old public rental housing estates under the Housing Authority with great potential for redevelopment. The oldest among them, the Model Housing Estate in Quarry Bay, is close to 70 years old and the facilities in it are not up to today’s standard. Should these old estates be redeveloped, many additional units could be provided besides resettlement of the original residents in respective estates. I suggested the Government should carry out detailed study of the redevelopment of those old public rental housing estates as soon as possible. The proposed redevelopment would also solve maintenance issues and improve living conditions for residents.
3. Met the Secretary for Labour and Welfare with district council members
On 5 Sept, I met the Secretary for Labour and Welfare with some district council members to express our concerns on livelihood of the low income families and the services to the elderly in particular. The Secretary promised to follow up on those issues so as to provide better services for those who are in need, and improve quality of people’s livelihood.
4. Met the Secretary for Environment with district council members
On 6 Sept, I met the Secretary for Environment with some district council members to express our concerns on environmental protection issues in different districts. The district council members urged the Government to put more resources on public projects to improve the environment. Members support adding charging facilities for electric vehicles. I also urged the Government to accelerate the construction of the badly needed Organic Resources Recovery Centers, to establish "Environmental Technology Industrialization and Development Centre" to provide technical support to the industry, and to develop a circular economy in the region in the long run.
5. Met the representatives of MTR with district council members
On 11 Sept, I met the representatives of MTR with some district council members to urge the MTR to improve station facilities and services to the commuters, and to provide higher fare discount to frequent users, students and elderly.
6. Discussed on the waste management policy in Hong Kong
On 26 Sept, I joined a forum organized by the waste management sector and discussed on the waste management policy in Hong Kong. Apart from local policy makers and advocators, speakers from neighboring cities were invited to share their views on the opportunities and challenges of waste management policies. I urged the Government to promote recycling and reuse of resources, provide economic incentives to the recycling industry, aiming at developing a circular economy in the region.
7. Shared LegCo affairs and communication techniques to senior staff of the Architectural Services Department
On 24 Sept, I was invited to give a talk on the LegCo affairs and communication techniques to senior staff of the Architectural Services Department. I shared with them the main functions of the LegCo, funding approval procedures and the impact of filibustering in recent years. I also talked about the importance of communication techniques in promoting government projects to the community.
