WK LO's LegCo Express (Jan 2021)
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WK Lo’s LegCo Express
Jan 2021
1. Submitted views on the Budget 2021-22
On 15 Jan, together with some other LegCo members, we met the Financial Secretary and expressed views on the Budget 2021-22 covering wide array of policy areas including revitalizing business and tourism, expanding financial services, diversifying development of innovation and technology, accelerating construction of houses and land, responding to challenges of the epidemic, education and youth development, increasing medical resources, and building liveable cities, etc. The submission covered around 100 proposals to enhance economic development and people’s livelihood.
2. Funding projects approved in the PWSC and the FC
On 27 Jan, the PWSC endorsed the funding increase of $1.5 billion for the main Bridge of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao. At the same meeting, the PWSC also endorsed funding project of $669.2 million for the in-situ preservation of the Lung Tsun Stone Bridge remnants and the construction of a preservation corridor. These projects together with the others would be forwarded to the FC for final funding approval.
On 8 Jan, the FC approved the relocation of Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works to caverns at an estimated cost of $14 billion. On 22 Jan, a total allocation of $24.3 billion for the 2021-22 block allocations under the Capital Works Reserve Fund was endorsed. The increase of $294.5 million for the same kind of funding for 2020-21 was also approved. The FC also approved to increase the financial ceiling of the delegated authority from $30 million to $50 million per item for capital subvention and increase from $10 million to $20 million for each project under Computerisation.
3. Raised a question on taking forward public works projects
I raised a question on taking forward public works projects at the council meeting on 6 Jan. I asked the Government about arrangements of the tendering procedures in parallel with the submission of funding applications of public works projects; whether it will improve the existing criteria for evaluating tenders, and how to repackage large-scale works contracts into manageable scales so as to enable more small and medium enterprises to participate for riding out the crisis together. You may use the following link for my question and the Government’s reply:
4. Raised an oral question on measures to cope with epidemic
I raised an oral question on measures to cope with epidemic at the council meeting on 13 Jan. I asked the Government if it will carry out anti-epidemic work under a state-of-war mentality, whether it will consider afresh the implementation of universal compulsory testing and the progress of preparing and the specific work arrangements for the vaccination programme. You may use the following link for my question and the Government’s reply:
5. Raised a question on improving design of drainage pipes
I raised a question on improving design of drainage pipes at the council meeting on 27 Jan. It is suspected that the path of COVID-19 infection in some cases related to the sewerage system of the buildings. I asked the Government on number of residential buildings from which sewage samples have been collected, whether the Government will consider extending the scope of sample collection to all residential buildings in the territory, and if the Government will introduce legislative amendments in respect of the design of drainage pipes of newly constructed buildings. You may use the following link for my question and the Government’s reply:
6. Visited construction site to learn about Construction Industry COVID-19 Testing Service Scheme
On 28 Jan, together with the Secretary for Development and other government officials, I visited a construction site at Muk Yuen Street in Kai Tak to learn about the testing arrangement for construction workers under the Construction Industry COVID-19 Testing Service Scheme and to inspect the preventive measures against the disease adopted at the site. The Scheme has so far provided testing services to over 22000 workers at 93 sites and 99.98 per cent of their test results were negative. With the subsidy provided by the CIC and the HKCA, developers or main contractors only need to pay part of the testing fee to offer testing services to workers and site staff who voluntarily join the Scheme.
