Working Reports

1. Urged the Government to assist the Construction Industry in crisis of the Novel Coronavirus

On 13 Feb, together with the Hon Abraham Shek and representatives from HKIE, HKIA, HKIS, CIC, HKCA, ACEHK, and AAP, I met senior officials of the Development Bureau and the Buildings Department to express the difficulties faced by the construction industry in the crisis of the novel coronavirus infection. I described the industry as facing three major operational risks of “works chain breaking, supply chain breaking, and capital chain breaking.”  I urged the authorities to improve existing arrangements to ensure timely approval of various applications related to the construction and engineering projects, to be more flexible in the public works lead-time, and to provide operating fund support to help the industry in crisis.

 

 

2. Masks donation to the practitioners of the construction and engineering sectors

As people are very alert with their personal hygiene in order to prevent novel coronavirus infection, the supply of face masks and other hygienical materials has become very tight in the market.  Thanks for the generosity of the Contractor’s Authorised Signatory Association, a batch of 20,000 pieces of surgical face masks were donated to their three honorary advisers, including me and two other LegCo members.  I have donated my share of 6,000 face masks to the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, the Resident Site Staff Association, the Hong Kong Project Management Exchange Centre, and the Hong Kong Association of Construction Professionals, etc. I and my teammates are trying hard to source more face masks.

 

 

3. Discussion on measures for prevention and control of novel coronavirus infection in Hong Kong

At the special meeting of Panel on Health Services on 30 Jan, members discussed measures for prevention and control of the novel coronavirus infection in Hong Kong. I urged the administration to adopt proper arrangements for frontline medical staff's quarantine accommodation, and also urged the public to pay attention to the home safety in addition to wearing masks, and to regularly pour water into the U-traps to avoid repeat of the SARS epidemic. 

 

 

4. Funding projects approved in the PWSC 

On 15 Jan, the PWSC endorsed a funding project of HK$331.9 million of West Kowloon Reclamation to construct a footbridge in the vicinity of the junction of Sham Mong Road and Hing Wah Street West in Sham Shui Po. The above funding proposal approved by the PWSC will be reviewed by the FC for final funding approval as soon as possible. 

 

 

5. Raised an oral question on operations on brownfield sites

I raised an oral question at the LegCo meeting on 15 Jan and asked the Government on operations of brownfield sites affected by government development projects. I asked if the Government has reserved sites sufficient for accommodating the brownfield operations concerned, and whether it has reserved sufficient open-air sites for accommodating those brownfield operations which cannot be reprovisioned in multi-storey buildings, in particular those indispensable operations such as the storage and maintenance of big construction equipment. The Government replied, in addition to the land respectively reserved in Hung Shui Kiu / Ha Tsuen and Yuen Long South New Development Areas of 61 and 11 hectares, it will continue to identify large land parcels to provide space for brownfield operations. Please use the link below for my question and the Government’s reply: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202001/15/P2020011500506.htm?fontSize=3

 

6. Urged the Government to rebuild old public housing estates

At the CE Q&A session on 16 Jan, I asked the CE to reconsider my proposal of reconstruction of old public housing estates.  In addition, I also emphasized that the Government should not stop studying the construction of additional public housing estates in the border areas of the green belt.  The Government should consider a series of measures to increase public housing supply.  Please use the link below for my question and the CE’s reply: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202001/16/P2020011600830.htm (Chinese only)