Working Reports
WK LO's LegCo Express (July 2019)
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WK Lo’s LegCo Express
July 2019
1. Summary of funding proposals approved in the PWSC and the FC during the 2018-19 session
During the 2018-19 legislative session, the PWSC has approved a total commitment of HK$140.2 billion. Among this, public projects with total amount more than HK$70 billion have not yet been approved by the FC. They include HK$16 billion of Trunk Road T2 and Cha Kwo Ling Tunnel; HK$18 billion of integrated basement for West Kowloon Cultural District; HK$7.7 billion of desalination plant at Tseung Kwan O; HK$2.4 billion of site formation and infrastructure works for public housing development at Wang Chau; HK$10.9 billion of redevelopment of Kwai Chung Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital, expansion of North District Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital; and HK$7 billion of Sha Tin water treatment works, etc.
The FC meetings were originally planned to be held till 20 July, with the goal of completing all the projects that the PWSC had approved and submitted to the FC. However, the LegCo complex was severely damaged on 1 July and the remaining LegCo meetings cannot be held as scheduled. The FC can only cancel all meetings in July, and thus funding approval for these public works projects is still pending.
2. Met the Financial Secretary to express views on measures to support the business sectors and to improve livelihood of people
On 1 August, together with some other LegCo members, we met the Financial Secretary and proposed a series of recommendations on how to improve the economic and social livelihood of Hong Kong, which include reducing profits tax, salaries tax and personal assessment to relieve the burden on the middle class; providing an allowance of $3,000 to all primary and secondary school students in Hong Kong; and extend the “fare concession scheme" to senior citizens aged 60 or above and full-time students to address the urgent need of the public, etc. To improve land and housing supply, I advocate the implementation of the diversified land development policy and redevelopment of the old public rental housing estates to increase housing supply.
3. Participated in the IVE engineering solar car “SOPHIE VIs” oath-taking event
I am glad to be invited to join the IVE Engineering Solar Car Team as Honorary Team Advisor and to officiate at the solar car “SOPHIE VIs” oath-taking ceremony on 6 July. Following the success of 2017, the Team will once again challenge the cruiser class of the World Solar Challenge 2019 in Australia in October. The “SOPHIE VIs” is equipped with better energy efficiency, higher battery capacity and artistic interior design. This international competition will bring over top-notch engineering students from different parts of the world to exchange insights on solar car technology.
4. Silk Road Forum on Green Finance 2019 in Xi'an
The Silk Road Forum on Green Finance 2019 was held in Xi'an on 19 July. The Forum aimed to forge relationship between Shaanxi and Hong Kong, encourage environmentally friendly investment and the development of green finance, and contribute to building a green Silk Road. Senior officials from Shaanxi and Hong Kong, leaders from renowned enterprises and senior executives from financial institutions shared their insights with the aim of fostering regional and international cooperation in green finance. The Forum was attended by more than 300 representatives from different organisations. I spoke at the Forum and hope the event can encourage more organisations to participate in environmentally friendly investment along the Belt and Road, and help speed up the pace of development of the green finance market, paving the way to a sustainable future for Hong Kong and Shaanxi, our nation and the world.
5. Delegation on green circular economy in the Greater Bay Area
On 15 July, I joined a delegation to Foshan, which was led by the Secretary for Environment, and comprising representatives from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the environmental sector as well as relevant professionals and academics for exchange on the green circular economy in the Greater Bay Area. The visit aims at promoting technology exchange in relation to the management of solid waste in cities in the Greater Bay Area, as well as enabling Hong Kong to establish better contact with neighboring cities to facilitate closer liaison in environmental issues. The delegation visited an integrated environmental industry facility that manages solid waste in Nanhai. While focusing on turning municipal waste into energy, it also treats food waste and sludge, and converts various types of municipal waste into useable resources. Their experience is good reference for Hong Kong, as our Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase I is now under construction.