October 3, 2022 DAB LegCo members Nixie Lam and Elizabeth Quat together with other members of the Election Committee discussed with representatives from the Motor trades Association of Hong Kong (MTA) the policy on new energy vehicles. The representatives from MTA urged the government to formulate a clear timetable for recycling retired EV batteries. Elizabeth Quat, chairman of the LegCo Environmental Affairs Panel, will follow up this in a panel meeting on new energy transportation in November. Ms. Nixie Lam thanked the MTA for exchanging views with LegCo members, and expected to foster exchanges in the future and motivate the government together to solve problems of the industry, achieve the goal of carbon neutrality and promote the sustainable development of Hong Kong's green economy. Media enquiry: DAB LegCo member Ms. Nixie Lam (6344 0879)

September 30, 2022 DAB LegCo members Chan Yung, Lillian Kwok, Rock Chen, and Deputy secretary-general Chris Ip released the initiatives of "Understanding National Development, Shaping a positive Narrative of the country and Hong Kong" in a press conference this morning. They hope to share the latest and true respects of the country and Hong Kong to the world through the promotion to the society of better understanding the national development and to shape a positive narrative of the country and of Hong Kong. The initiatives are divided into two parts with a total of six chapters, which are summarized as follows: Part 1 Strengthen the promotion of Chinese culture Improve national education and enhance students’ national identity Better utilise local historical resources to promote patriotism Make optimal use of various forms of media to help citizens understand national affairs Part 2 Give full play to Hong Kong's distinctive advantages and turn Hong Kong into a platform for international exchanges Speak for the country and Hong Kong on the international stage Media enquiries: HK deputy to National People's Congress, LegCo member Chan Yung (9668 6095) DAB Education Spokesperson, LegCo Member Lillian Kwok (5541 8128) DAB Education Deputy Spokesperson, LegCo Member Rock Chen (5398 3885)

September 27, 2022 DAB Health Services Spokesperson and LegCo Member Edward Leung welcomed the government's acceptance of his concept of "Parent-Child Electronic Vaccination Record". Parents or guardians are allowed to save the Vaccine Pass of their children, elderly above 65 years old and persons with disabilities in their mobile for their ease of use when entering designated premises. Edward Leung expected the government would closely monitor the development of the epidemic and the operation of "0+3", create favorable conditions for relaxation of quarantine measures and achieve the goal of "0+0", allow Hong Kong to get connected to the international community again. Media enquiry: DAB Health Services Spokesperson and LegCo Member Edward Leung (9665 0660)

September 27, 2022 A child maltreatment incident was unearthed recently in the Po Leung Kuk residential childcare service (Babies Section). A staff member pushed the babies and caused them to fall onto the floor mat many times. The staff member involved in the case was reported to have been arrested and was now on bail pending further investigation. DAB LegCo member and Welfare Services Spokesperson Stanley Li was shocked and felt anger at the incident, as child maltreatment happened again in less than a year since the last incident was reported. Stanley Li put forward 7 recommendations to improve supervision and prevent child maltreatment. The Police and Social Welfare Department should conduct comprehensive investigations on the quality and manpower of the childcare service involved The Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Social Welfare Department must expedite the completion of "Review of Residential Child Care and Related Services" Social Welfare Department should deploy additional supervisory and monitoring manpower Social Welfare Department should require childcare service providers to better train their frontline staff Expedite the bill on a mandatory reporting mechanism for child abuse cases Strengthen the penalties for child maltreatment related criminal offences Study to setup a blacklist of child care workers Media enquiries: DAB LegCo Member and Welfare Services Spokesperson Stanley Li (9797 7393)

September 26, 2022 DAB LegCo members met with the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Mr. Algernon Yau this morning to explain DAB’s achievements during its ASEAN visit earlier this month, and exchange views on promotion of economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and ASEAN to bring about a higher level of strategic development. The DAB was confident that ASEAN is an emerging economy with great potential for development. Moreover, it had become the second largest trading partner with Hong Kong apart from our country that the SAR government should enhance its strategic development with the ASEAN region. We made the following eight proposals on the general direction: Enhance the strategic development status of the ASEAN region Reorganize Hong Kong’s overseas offices which are responsible for the promotion of economic and trade development Attract ASEAN companies to fundraise and list in Hong Kong Attract the ASEAN region to utilize Hong Kong’s professional services Assist SMEs to enter the ASEAN market Strengthen regional cooperation through the digital economy Strengthen promotion of Hong Kong's cultural industries Develop Hong Kong into a training center for talents in the ASEAN region Follow up work Before and after the end of the visit, many organizations indicated that they would pay return visit to Hong Kong. We would actively assist to facilitate their visits. On the other hand, DAB will accept the invitation from Indonesia Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and would send a delegation to attend the B20 summit to be held in Indonesia in November.

September 21, 2022 The Chief Executive, Mr. John Lee, would release the first Policy Address of the new term government soon, and the DAB and all sectors of the society were concerned about the continuity of the "Northern Metropolis Development Strategy" under the new government. DAB LegCo members Ben Chan, Edward Lau and Rock Chen submitted the Policy Initiatives for Improving Transportation Infrastructure (for the New Territories) to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr. Lam Sai-hung and the Under Secretary Mr. Liu Chun San and exchanged views on the said policy initiatives. We advocated the government to set a timetable and plan for cross-district roads as soon as possible under the infrastructure-led approach, to allow districts to realise their full potentials. At the meeting, Edward Lau explained construction ideas of the "New North-South Route" and the "Northern Express Route", Ben Chan introduced DAB’s recommendations for improving the traffic in New Territories North, including the branch roads of Route 11. Ben Chan expressed that the government had responded positively to the DAB's policy initiatives. Their area of research and discussion were also similar. He believed that the proposed transportation infrastructure and route planning would resolve the current problems and prevent traffic congestion, giving him more confidence in the district development. Media enquiries: DAB LegCo Member Ben Chan (9274 7035) DAB LegCo Member Edward Lau(9782 7408)

September 20, 2022 The DAB met with the Chief Executive today and submitted the DAB’s proposals for the 2022 Policy Address, the theme of which was "Unite and Start Afresh. Open up and Create Prosperity". We put forward 25 recommendations in three key areas and over 130 recommendations, hoping the government would focus on three main areas in the future year: 1) moving forward along the path to normalcy; 2) attracting capital and talents; and 3) enhancing the strategic development status of the ASEAN area. In addition to the three areas, the DAB also proposed more than 100 recommendations which are grouped under four topics. Improve governance The government should improve its governance. The "Chief Executive's Policy Unit" should be implemented as soon as possible and defined as a think-tank to assist the government in decision-making and conduct mid and long-term research on Hong Kong affairs. Create strong impetus for growth The government should create strong impetus for growth and introduce effective measures to promote the development of finance, innovation and technology, re-industrialization, digital economy, the northern metropolis, the Greater Bay Area, and integration into the national development. Address people’s concerns and difficulties in daily life Hong Kong people faced five long standing problems: 1) difficulties in owning property; 2) difficulties in accessing healthcare; 3) difficulties in accessing elderly and caregiver services; 4) difficulties in travelling arrangement; and 5) problems specific to the districts. The government should strive to shorten the waiting time for public rental housing to four years, study the construction of a third local medical school, set up a "caregiver allowance system" and improve taxi services. Safeguard harmony and stability The government should improve laws and mechanisms to achieve national security, enact the "Cyber Security Law", "Online False Information Law" and related regulations, and require serving teachers to take the "Basic Law and National Security Law" test. Media enquiries: DAB Chairperson Starry Lee (9457 9853)

September 19, 2022 The Chief Executive's Policy Address would be released soon. DAB Ethnic Minorities Committee held a video conference with Mr. Chan Kwok-ki, the Chief Secretary for Administration to express their views on issues such as upward mobility of ethnic minorities youth, vaccination and quarantine measures, lack of suitable venues for religious activities in public housing estates with more ethnic minorities residents. The Chairperson of the Committee, Vincent Cheng expected the Policy Address would propose measures to provide more support to ethnic minorities, such as recruiting ethnic minorities youth in the Strive and Rise Programme, and considering launching a mentorship scheme specially for ethnic minorities youth. Media enquiry: Chairperson of the DAB Ethnic Minorities Committee, LegCo Member Vincent Cheng (6373 1979)

September 18, 2022 The DAB visited five ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia, in three delegations from September 4 to September 10. The three delegations attended over 50 meetings or visits, reached over 500 local businessmen and professionals, and visited the Chinese ambassies. The visits could be summed up as "Reinforce ties, Shape the narrative, Promote Exchanges, and Develop Together", and the results achieved exceeded our expectations. Reinforce ties We successfully reached out to local representatives from chambers of commerce and businessmen and received news before the end of the visit that many organizations would make return visits to Hong Kong. We believed that our delegations had made a successful first step in promoting exchanges between Hong Kong and ASEAN in the future Shape the narrative The delegations used figures to explain the current environment and evaluate the achievements of Hong Kong after the 25th anniversary of the handover to local representatives from chambers of commerce and businessmen. We believed our explanation had successfully projected the real picture of Hong Kong to the local people and increased their confidence in the future of Hong Kong. Promote Exchanges The delegations introduced Hong Kong’s current situation in details, encouraged local people to come visit Hong Kong and received positive responses, hence promoting economic and personnel exchanges between Hong Kong and the ASEAN region. Develop Together The delegations introduced Hong Kong's advantages for doing business to the local businessmen and brought to their attention the development of Hong Kong's traditional Chinese medicine, innovation and technology industries. We believed that the visits helped local businessmen refocus their attention to Hong Kong’s economic developments. Future Work We planned to submit proposals on the promotion of a higher level of strategic development of economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and ASEAN during our meeting on the Policy Address with the Chief Executive next week. Conclusion The ASEAN region was rapidly developing, which proved that the country’s "Belt and Road" strategy was on the right track. Hong Kong should make contributions to the national development strategy.

September 15, 2022 The DAB Family Affairs Committee (the Committee) was always concerned about expenses incurred by students when school starts. According to an earlier survey released by the Consumer Council, the increase in average expenses by primary and secondary school students to purchase textbooks, supplementary exercises and other learning materials was significantly higher than the inflation rate of 1.7% over the same period. The Committee proposed the government to subsidize schools in purchasing "shared textbooks", publish simplified versions of textbooks for schools, and encourage schools to use more e-books in order to lower students’ textbooks expenses. Frankie Ngan, the Committee chairperson and LegCo member, also suggested the government to provide book vouchers for students, encouraging them to read, and introduce tax allowances for children's education expenses to alleviate parents' financial pressure. Media enquiries: The DAB Family Affairs Committee chairperson and LegCo member Frankie Ngan (6600 2511)

September 15, 2022 The Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing (HKEX) might plan to lower the listing threshold for hard-tech companies by adding Chapter 18C of the Listing Rules. DAB Financial Affairs spokesperson and LegCo member Rock Chen supported the HKEX’s plan and urged to carry out public consultations, if the news was true. Rock Chen believed that plan would have three advantages: (1) promote the diversification of listed companies in Hong Kong; (2) improve the atmosphere for investment in the IPO market and increase funds raised by IPOs; (3) contribute to the research and development, and independent innovation of the country’s high-tech companies, hence promoting the commercial application of technological achievements. Media enquiries: DAB Financial Affairs Spokesperson and LegCo Member Rock Chen (5398 3885)

August 31, 2022 Hong Kong endured the social incidents in 2019 and the epidemic for more than two years, and she now faced the most severe power politics by major countries in a century. Ill-intentioned people took use of the opportunity to make a fuss of some common issues, mislead people overseas about the situation in Hong Kong. We felt the need to respond to the malicious smear and misunderstandings and to explain the real situation in Hong Kong to people overseas, in order to shape a positive narrative of Hong Kong and China. On September 4, three DAB delegations set off to visit five ASEAN countries and meet local chambers of commerce, professional groups, youth organizations and local investors. Our aim was to deepen mutual understanding, promote mutually beneficial economic, trade and social cooperation between Hong Kong and ASEAN, and to build regional prosperity together. Brochure Overview of DAB’s ASEAN Visit Indonesia Delegation Starry Lee acted as team leader, teammates included Kennedy Wong, Elizabeth Quat, Frankie Ngan, Edward Leung and Stanley Li Partial itinerary: Meeting with representatives of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), the largest chamber of commerce in Indonesia Meeting with G20 Business Forum members Meeting with local Hong Kong and Chinese businessmen, including Indonesian Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Indonesia Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam & Thailand Delegation Gary Chan acted as team leader, teammates included Holden Chow, Ben Chan, Steven Ho, Lillian Kwok Partial itinerary: The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry The Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce Board of Trade of Thailand The Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand Malaysia & Singapore Delegation Chan Yung as team leader, teammates included Chan Hok Fung, Edward Lau, Nixie Lam, Caspar Tsui Partial itinerary: The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia Hong Kong-Malaysia Business Association Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce Malaysia-China Business Council Singapore Business Federation Hong Kong Singapore Business Association Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy