WK LO's LegCo Express (April 2021)
"
W K LO's LegCo Express
April 2021
1. Urged the Government to consider Business Bubble between the mainland and Hong Kong
At the LegCo meeting on 28 April, I raised an oral question to CE and urge the Government to speed up negotiations with the mainland on my proposal of “business bubble”. I suggested to exempt businessmen and professionals from quarantine with business purposes of 14 days after two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, and the test proved to be negative (for the virus). CE replied that she will study any form of travel bubble that the mainland would accept. Please use the link to view my question and CE’s reply:
2. Funding projects approved in the PWSC and the FC
On 23 April, the FC approved a funding request of $4.7 billion to upgrade West Kowloon transfer station and Island West and Island East transfer stations. On 30 April, the FC approved total allocation of $1.2 billion for the construction works of two youth hostels of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and the Hong Kong Girl Guides Association in Jordan respectively.
On 21 April, the PWSC approved a funding request of $1.64 billion to carry out site formation and infrastructure works to support the proposed public housing development at Long Bin, Yuen Long. Another project of $862.2 million was also approved for the development of the Vocational Training Council Aviation and Maritime Education Centre at Tsing Yi on the same day. The projects together with the others would be forwarded to the FC for final funding approval.
3. Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021
On 14 April, the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021 was introduced into the LegCo for the First Reading and the Second Reading. A Bills Committee was set up on 17 April to study the details. I joined this Bills Committee and finished the scrutiny of the Bill on 3 May.
4. Raised a question of maintaining Hong Kong's status and competitiveness in international community
On 28 April, I raised a question at the LegCo meeting and asked the Government whether it has taken measures to refute the allegation; of its new thinking on enhancing Hong Kong's capability of responding to the complex and volatile international political and economic environment, how can Hong Kong better seize the opportunities of post-pandemic economic development; and what strategies the Government has put in place to deal with the situation where governments of various countries. Please use this link to view my question and the Government’s reply:
5. COVID-19 Vaccination Programme opens to persons aged 16 or above
The Government announced on 15 April that the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will be expanded to cover persons aged 16 to 29. The minimum age for receiving the BioNTech vaccine is 16, and that for receiving the Sinovac vaccine is 18. It was also announced that the Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) across the territory would be operated until the end of September.
6. Extension of Return2hk Travel Scheme to Hong Kong residents staying in other Mainland provinces and municipalities
On 26 April, the Government announced the extension of the Return2hk Travel Scheme from Guangdong Province and Macao to other Mainland provinces and municipalities. Starting from April 29, Hong Kong residents staying in other Mainland provinces and municipalities, upon fulfilment of all specified conditions under the Return2hk Scheme, including not having stayed in places other than Hong Kong, the Mainland or Macao, or any places in the Mainland which are designated as "medium-risk" and "high-risk", in the past 14 days before arriving in Hong Kong (not including the period where a person has been undergoing compulsory quarantine in the Mainland or Macao under the requirement in that place) could be exempted from the 14-day compulsory quarantine requirement when returning to Hong Kong.
