W K LO's LegCo Express
Jan 2025
1. Met with the Financial Secretary to present the proposal for the Budget 2025
On 17 Jan, together with some other LegCo members, I met with the Financial Secretary to present our proposal for the Budget 2025, titled "Aligning with the Nation’s Proactive Fiscal Policies to Foster New Growth Drivers and Enhance Livelihoods." The proposal covers 16 key areas and includes 136 specific recommendations. We pointed out that Hong Kong’s most pressing economic challenges include sluggish consumption, a prolonged downturn in the stock and property markets, and insufficient economic momentum. We urged the HKSAR Government to prioritize alignment with major national policies in the upcoming Budget, leveraging these initiatives to stimulate consumption, revitalize the stock market, and stabilize the property sector. By doing so, we aim to catalyze new growth drivers and enhance the well-being of the public.
2. Moved an amendment to the motion on “Enhancing regulation of the safety of construction works”
At the LegCo council meeting on 22 Jan, I moved an amendment to the motion on “Enhancing regulation of the safety of construction works”. I pointed out that the construction industry is not only an important driving force for Hong Kong’s economic and social development, it also provides livelihoods for over 300,000 practitioners and around 1 million related family members. However, a number of serious construction accidents in recent years have aroused public concern about the safety of construction works; in this connection, I urged the Government to reform the regulatory system for construction works through measures including driving the industry forward to establish a professional safety monitoring system that keeps abreast of the times, clearly defining the relationship of roles and responsibilities among various stakeholders and enhancing safety awareness; also urged the Government to encourage the industry to automate high-risk processes and use technology to monitor site safety in real time, and to review and amend relevant legislation, so that all stakeholders can work together to foster a genuine safety culture. My amendment, together with the original motion and other amendments, was passed at the meeting.
3. Elected Chairman of the Panel on Development
In the new legislative year 2025, I was elected Chairman of the Panel on Development. This year, I joined five panels, two subcommittees under the Finance Committee (FC) and a few other subcommittees as well.
4. Joined the Protection of the Harbour (Amendment) Bill 2024
The Bill seeks to amend the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance to introduce a mechanism to regulate reclamations in the harbour; to introduce a mechanism to determine whether the presumption against reclamation in the harbour is rebutted; to introduce a mechanism to exempt harbour enhancement reclamations and harbour non-permanent reclamations from that presumption; and to provide for related matters. I joined the Bills Committee in January.
5. Visited Fairview Park for autonomous shuttle light buses
Together with some other LegCo members, I visited Fairview Park in Yuen Long on 20 January to observe the operation of autonomous shuttle light buses to gain insights into the developments in “smart mobility”. The driverless bus is equipped with an artificial intelligence (“AI”) system, 15 radars and recognition cameras, together with high-definition electronic maps and image processing technology, enabling the AI system to analyze road conditions and achieve precise positioning. Since August last year, two driverless light buses conducted a seven-month trial run at Fairview Park. I then took a test ride on the autonomous shuttle light buses to experience first-hand the manual and automatic modes of driving. We also exchanged views with representatives of the Administration and the Centre on ensuring traffic safety and the application of autonomous vehicle technology, etc.
