WK LO's LegCo Express (May 2021)
WK Lo’s LegCo Express
May 2021
1. Government continues support for engineering, architectural, surveying, town planning and landscape sectors
At the CE Q&A session on 2 June, I urged the Government to continue the measures introduced last year to support the employment training of graduates and young people. It just so happened that the ENB announced on the same day that it will offer more than 800 environmental-related jobs under Green Employment Scheme again. On 11 June, the Government announced a total of 1700 subsidy places will be provided under Support Measure 2.0. The first group provides 550 subsidy places to fresh graduates who studied architecture, surveying, town planning and landscape architecture. The second group with 1150 subsidy places is for assistant professionals of the engineering, architectural, surveying, town planning and landscape sectors. Furthermore, the “Scheme A” Engineering Graduate Training subsidy quota for this year will be increased from 270 to 500.
2. Issued a proposal of “Ten-year Housing Plan for Hong Kong”
Together with some other LegCo members, I issued a proposal of "Ten-year Housing Plan for Hong Kong" and put forward three goals and five recommendations to increase the supply of land and housing in a multi-pronged manner, so as to develop 2,400 hectares of land, to increase 650,000 public and private Housing units, to increase the average living space per capita from 161 square feet to 200 square feet, and to create 600,000 jobs.
3. Funding projects approved in the PWSC and the FC
On 12 May, the PWSC approved $39.4 billion for three funding projects including the construction of a new acute hospital at Kai Tak Development Area, and expanding North District Hospital and Lai King Building in Princess Margaret Hospital to enhance service capacity. On 20 May, another allocation of $10.6 billion was approved for the development of Chinese Medicine Hospital and establishment of Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute in Tseung Kwan O. The projects together with the others would be forwarded to the FC for final funding approval.
On 14 May, the FC approved a funding request of $0.86 billion for the development of the Vocational Training Council Aviation and Maritime Education Centre at Tsing Yi. On 28 May, a funding project of $135 million was approved to upgrade the facilities of the Hong Kong Wetland Park.
4. Raised a question of Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office
At the LegCo meeting on 5 May, I asked the Government whether the work of Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office (PICO) includes assisting the senior government management in gauging public sentiment and opinion and whether the Government has formulated key performance indicators for the work of PICO. Please use this link to view my question and the Government’s reply:
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202105/05/P2021050500317.htm?fontSize=3
5. Raised a question of telephone deception cases
At the LegCo meeting on 12 May, I asked the Government of the number of reports involving telephone deception received by the Police in each of the past three years; whether the Government has considered amending the relevant legislation (including raising the penalties) and enacting new legislation and whether the Government will enhance the cooperation with the banking sector. Please use this link to view my question and the Government’s reply:
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202105/12/P2021051200613.htm?fontSize=3
6. Raised an oral question of achieving the carbon neutrality target
At the LegCo meeting on 26 May, I asked the Government whether it has drawn up comprehensive policy directions and measures in areas such as waste treatment, energy supply, green building, green transportation, cleaner production and green finance in order to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050; whether the Government will establish a regular communication mechanism with the Central ministries and the governments of Guangdong Province and Macao, so as to coordinate the implementation of carbon reduction initiatives in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; and whether the Government will strengthen the training and support for the relevant talents. Please use this link to view my question and the Government’s reply:
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202105/26/P2021052600578.htm?fontSize=3
