Working Reports
WK Lo’s LegCo Express (June 2016)
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WK LO's LegCo Express
June/July 2016
(Animated Video of LegCo Working Report)
1. Launching of animated video online to report my work and to thank for your support
An animated video reporting my four-year LegCo work was launched online on 11 July. This video covers four aspects what I have dedicated myself to: infrastructure planning; professional development; industrial and environmental development; and social development. You are welcome to view the animated video via the link above.
In 2012, I was privileged to be elected as your representative in the LegCo carrying with me my commitment to the engineering industry and profession. I am very grateful for the opportunity I was given to serve our engineering sector and community as a LegCo member. Our society is facing a lot of challenges. Rational and pragmatic communication is needed. Prejudices ought to be set aside in favour of honest and sincere exchanges to resolve the disagreements in the society. Thanks for all the support you have given me over last four years. The joint effort of the engineering sector is vital to develop economy and to improve people’s livelihood, to promote prosperity and strength, to develop infrastructure, to protect our environment, to enliven our economy and to make Hong Kong a green and smart city to live and work. I earnestly hope to join hands with all of you to play the great engineering concerto together!
2. Progress of funding of public works projects improved in the PWSC and the FC
The Public Works Subcommittee (PWSC) which I chair has held 30 meetings lasting 77 hours in the session of 2015-16, among them 13 were additional meetings lasting 43 hours. Total funding of $53.8 billion for new public works projects was endorsed in the PWSC for final approval of the FC. Total funding of $ 54.2 billion for new public works projects was approved in the FC. Other works related funding proposals approved at the FC include: the additional funding proposal of $5.4 billion of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities, an increase of $19.6 billion in the projects estimate for the Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, block allocations of $12.8 billion for the 2016-17 under the Capital Works Reserve Fund and an increase of $0.43 billion for the 2015-16 Capital Works Reserve Fund. All together the total works related funding approved in the FC is $92.5 billion in the session 2015-16.
I would like to offer my deepest gratitude to those in the industry who contributed their efforts on expediting the funding approval in the PWSC and the FC.
3. Funding proposals of setting up of the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme and Innovation and Technology Venture Fund approved in the FC
On 12 July, a funding allocation of $200 million for setting up the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS) and a commitment of $2 billion of Innovation and Technology Venture Fund were endorsed at the FC meeting. The PASS will support the professional services sector to carry out projects to enhance their standards and external competitiveness. Each successful applicant will receive a maximum grant up to 90% of the overall cost of the project, or $3 million. The setting up of PASS will require an allocation of $200 million to sustain the operation of the scheme up to around 2021-22. The Government plans to launch PASS and start inviting applications in the fourth quarter of 2016. The creation of a new funding with a commitment of $2 billion under the Innovation and Technology Fund for financing the proposed Innovation and Technology Venture Fund (ITVF) is to encourage investment from venture capital funds in local I&T start-ups. The Government plans to launch the ITVF in the first half of 2017.
4. Smart City Development in Hong Kong
On 13 June, the Administration introduced members on the Government’s plan to formulate a blueprint for building Hong Kong as a smart city and the scope of the consultancy study for this purpose. The overall objectives of developing Hong Kong into a smart city include making use of innovation and technology to address urban challenges to enhance city management and improve quality of living, and to improve sustainability, efficiency and safety of our city; enhancing city attractiveness to global business and talents; and inspiring continuous city innovation and sustainable economic development. The Government will conduct a consultancy study in 2016-17 for the sake of formulating a Smart City Development Blueprint for Hong Kong. The study will commence in the second half of 2016 and complete in March/April 2017.
5. Re-appointment as Board Member of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
I was re-appointed as a board member of the HKSTPC on 24 June for a period of two years from July 1, 2016. Over the past 15 years, the HKSTPC has set a solid foundation for the development of the innovation and technology ecosystem in Hong Kong. I will continue to work with other members to help Hong Kong stride forward in innovation and technology development.