August 22, 2022 The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr. Chan Kwok-ki held a press conference on the Strive and Rise Programme launched by the Task Force to Lift Underprivileged Students out of Intergenerational Poverty. The activities of the programme could be grouped into five aspects, namely an orientation session, basic training, mentor-mentee interactive sessions, diverse group activities, and a graduation ceremony and extended network building. The DAB expressed support for the programme proposed, believed that the mentees would benefit from the programme and develop a positive outlook on life. DAB had further recommendations on the programme: Expand channels for referral Provide adequate training for mentors Support family-oriented Set up a waiting list to prevent mentees from being disappointed Extend the duration of the programme; Add China’s national circumstances element into the developing a positive outlook on life Media enquiries DAB LegCo member Chan Yung 9668 6095 DAB LegCo member Stanley Li 9797 7393 DAB LegCo member Lillian Kwok 5541 8128

August 17, 2022 The DAB Family Affairs Committee visited the TWGHs Even Centre to shed light on the importance of anti-gambling services and counselling and treatment for gamblers. The DAB Family Affairs Committee chairperson Frankie Ngan briefly introduced Committee’s past work on anti-gambling, including regular surveys, and meetings with representatives from the Ping Wo Fund and the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau to propose enhancement on anti-gambling addiction to curb the problem of youth gambling. This year's World Cup is scheduled in November and gambling-related problems may still be prevalent this year. We urged subverted organizations to publicize more on no gambling addiction. We also recommended the Jockey Club to include warnings with deterrent effect in its betting branches and websites, and add a service for gambler to set their investment cap. Enquiry: DAB Family Affairs Committee Chairperson Frankie Ngan 6600 2511

August 16, 2022 The DAB is going to meet with Chief Executive John Lee in September to discuss the 2022 Policy Address. We announced recommendations on how to promote Hong Kong's future economic development, consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international financial, I&T and economic and trade center. Key recommendations Promote RMB internationalization Strengthen Hong Kong’s status as a major fundraising center Proactively attract investment and talents Promote Hong Kong’s status as an international economic and trade center Promote the development of I&T and Re-industrialization Other recommendations Enhance financial security measures Strengthen the connectivity between financial markets to promote RMB internationalization Promote insurance business under mutual market access scheme in the Greater Bay Area Provide more support to the accounting industry Strengthen the development of digital economy Promote the development of e-commerce Develop smart city clusters in the Greater Bay Area Media contacts: DAB Financial Affairs Spokesperson Rock Chan 5398 3885 DAB Financial Affairs Spokesperson Edmund Wong 5978 9007 DAB Commerce and Industry Spokesperson Kennedy Wong 3589 6648 DAB Economic Development Spokesperson Holden Chow 3703 9870 DAB Information Technology and Broadcasting Spokesperson Elizabeth Quat 9031 7995

August 16, 2022 The DAB Kowloon Central and Kowloon West teams met with the Director of Fire Services Mr. Andy Yeung to express concerns on the amendments to the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance (Cap. 572). They urged the government to optimize the prosecution mechanism, allow the Fire Services Department to prioritize installation of fire safety equipment; relaunch the Fire Safety Improvement Works Subsidy Scheme to ease the financial burden on owners of old buildings. In addition, we made a number of recommendations including: Improving technology so that water can be diverted into the building from standpipes, and increasing the number of floors in a building exempted from installing water tanks from three to six or seven Allowing the Fire Services Department to flexibly prioritize installation of fire safety equipment to better care for the needs of buildings with inactive Owners’ corporations Promoting the transparency of fee chargeable and establishing a clear bidding system. Residents should be informed of the approximate cost of the project beforehand. Strengthening communication with residents before the project commences to alleviate residents' doubts Optimizing the monitoring system, such as whether the charges are reasonable, etc. The proposed amendments to the Ordinance touched upon the rights and interests of many owners of old buildings. We urged the government to listen more to the opinions of LegCo members and residents when formulating the details of the amendment. Media enquiries: LegCo member Starry Lee (9457-9853) LegCo member Vincent Cheng (6373-1979)

August 14, 2022 The YoungDAB conducted an online questionnaire survey from 24 June, 2022 to 8 August, 2022 on "Knowing the country and Integrating into the Greater Bay Area". It received 465 valid responses and released the survey results and recommendations today. Results Over 60% of the young respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their ethnic identities are Chinese (64.2%) Over 70% of the young respondents visited the mainland at least once a year or more, and nearly half visited the mainland over ten times before the covid-19 pandemic hit the city More than one-quarter of the respondents believed that the most outstanding achievement of the country was “lifting people out of poverty” Respondents (41.6%) replied that the most attractive reason for moving to the Greater Bay Area was to start a business Recommendations Set up more quarantine hotels in Hong Kong to facilitate young people seeking development in the Greater Bay Area Enhance young people’s identification with their Chinese ethnic identity and deepen their understanding of the country, such as organize short exchange trips to the mainland for young people to take part in Utilize more promotion channels including social media to shape a positive narrative of China Strengthen education relating to One country, Two systems Provide more support to young people who are interested in starting a business in the Greater Bay Area Assist young people to buy property in the Greater Bay Area Support Hong Kong youths to pursue studies in the mainland Media contacts: YoungDAB Chairperson Noel Shih (9544 8811) YoungDAB Vice-Chairperson (Policy Research) Daniel Chan (9630 4122)

12 August, 2022 LegCo member and solicitor Holden Chow and the Business and Professional Affairs Committee jointly published the Policy Initiatives for Development of HKSAR Legal Service. The policy initiatives covered three areas: electronic filing and proceedings in courts; Chinese constitution training; promotion of Hong Kong’s status as a center to provide mediation, arbitration and dispute resolution services. Electronic filing and proceedings in courts Aims to help litigants save paper, money and time. We urged the Judiciary to closely monitor the usage of the electronic integrated management system, and set a timetable to make courts paperless. Chinese constitution training Hong Kong is a part of the country that judicial appointees and judges should have sound knowledge of the country’s constitution and constitutional basis. We advocate the Judiciary to hold more training on the country’s constitution. Promotion of Hong Kong as a center to provide mediation, arbitration and dispute resolution services The Government should strengthen promotion, so that the public is fully aware of mediation, arbitration and dispute resolution services as a “bang for the buck” option other than litigation. Media contacts: DAB Business & Professional Affairs Committee Chairperson, LegCo member and Solicitor Holden Chow 37039870 DAB Business & Professional Affairs Committee member, LegCo member and Solicitor Kennedy Wong 94226633 DAB Business & Professional Affairs Committee member and Solicitor Christopher Wong 96234441 DAB Business & Professional Affairs Committee member and Solicitor Leung Hang Faat 64963825

Feb 28, 2022 A large number of patients including elderly were still waiting outside the Accident & Emergency (A&E) of Caritas Medical Centre in the past two days due to the flow of patients was stymied by the shortage of ambulances or non-emergency service vehicles. Legislative Council member (Kowloon West) Vincent Cheng requested the authority to take decisive measures, such as to increase or allocate manpower, to borrow rehabuses or vehicles adapted for use to transfer infected persons with mild symptoms to other facilities, to recruit additional staff who were formerly coach drivers. As more patients are expected to go to A&E after the Compulsory Universal Testing is launched, the authority should consider seeking assistance from the mainland if necessary, and to deploy vehicles from Shenzhen and neighboring areas to Hong Kong for assistance. He also hoped that no more elderly patients would have to wait outside the A&E after the respite service centre at Shek Kip Mei Park Sports Centre is put into service on March 1. On the other hand, Vincent Cheng and the DAB Kowloon West team delivered rapid antigen test kits and protective items to property management personnel of housing estates and elderly homes in Kowloon West areas. Media contact: Legislative Council member (Kowloon West) Vincent Cheng 6373 1979

Mar 13, 2022 Vincent Cheng (right) participated in an activity promoting vaccination The Home Affairs Department launched the Home Support Supplies Delivery Service yesterday (Mar 12) to support persons pending admission to hospitals or community isolation facilities by delivering basic daily necessities and food directly, eliminating referral to the Social Welfare Department. Vincent Cheng, Chairman of the Panel on Home Affairs of the Legislative Council, commented that it is a positive response to his previous proposals including rationalizing the delivery procedure, strengthening the role of the Home Affairs Department in the distribution of supplies and hiring more short-term assistants. Having participated in the delivery work of anti-epidemic supplies from the Central Authorities, Vincent Cheng suggested that the Home Affairs Bureau or Home Affairs Department should set up command centre to coordinate and engage district network for the delivery of anti-epidemic supplies to families in need, with the help of short-term assistants and volunteers. It can also assist the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer in delivery of anti-epidemic kits, with assistance from district organisations. Vincent Cheng learned that the authority is going to engage logistics companies and organisations assisting the delivery of anti-epidemic kits. He suggested the Innovation and Technology Bureau could strengthen cooperation with the Home Affairs Bureau, with the latter providing support. As the epidemic was still at its peak, the authorities should provide adequate protective supplies to the delivery team members. Media contact: Vincent Cheng 6373 1979 (Legislative Council member – Kowloon West)

Mar 1, 2022 The government announced that the Compulsory Universal Testing (CUT) will be conducted in March, but the specific details are yet to be announced. In order to collect people’s views on Compulsory Universal Testing, the DAB Legislative Council member (New Territories North) Lau Kwok Fan conducted an online survey and received more than 13,000 responses within two days. Summary of the survey 90% agreed that the CUT should be carried out by district, while 10% agreed it should be conducted in the order of ID card number. 90.5% believed that the CUT should be implemented with a lockdown and home confinement; 3.6% disagreed, and 5.9% had no opinion. 70.8% believed that the whole city should be locked down and confined; 26.3% believed that the 18 districts should be confined in turn; 2.9% said that there should not be any city lockdown or home confinement. In terms of the number of days of home confinement, 21.9% indicated that 1 to 5 days were acceptable; 35.5% accepted 6 to 10 days; 27.3% accepted 11 to 15 days; 15.4% accepted 16 days or more. More than half of the citizens could accept a 6 to 14 days home confinement, reflecting a change in the public's mentality. In terms of supply of materials during the home confinement, 52.8% said that the government should be responsible; 47.2% said that the government could announce the date of confinement in advance and allow citizens to prepare. Suggestions The government should be open and transparent in the dissemination of information. After determining the direction of CUT, the government should explain it clearly as soon as possible and allow the public sufficient time to prepare for it. The government should have a comprehensive plan to deal with all scenarios, prepare sufficient ancillary measures to deal with confusion or disputes during the lockdown; maintain a stable supply of materials, and if necessary, to supply confined citizens with necessary supplies to prevent them from scrambling, or to avoid causing panic. The Government should provide special care arrangements, such as door-to-door testing for citizens who are not physically capable of going out. The Government should set up various commanding departments to coordinate various special tasks such as logistics, cleanliness, order, and other assistance to avoid a recurring problem of coordination failure during the CUT period. Media contact： Legislative Council member (NT North) Lau Kwok Fan 9782 7408

Mar 14, 2022 The Hong Kong society is united to cope with the government's anti-epidemic measures to combat the fifth wave of the epidemic. We received a lot of opinions which can optimize the anti-epidemic work in several areas: 1) The hospital and community isolation facilities should enhance communications with care homes and family members about the health conditions of the infected elderly soon after receiving them and during their hospitalization. 2) The government, by reference to the experience of setting up an examination venue at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Facility last year, should set up an examination venue where is also served as a designated isolation facility as well before the examination period for HKDSE candidates who are infected or need to be quarantined. 3) The Government should expand the coverage of the Anti-epidemic Fund 6.0 to cleaning and security workers working in different premises, with each worker a monthly allowance of $2,000 for five months. 4) The government should increase special allowance to healthcare workers in the HA and cover more healthcare workers, and also provides the HA with additional funding to rent more hotel rooms for healthcare workers who are on duty in high-risk locations to stay overnight to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus to their family members. Media contact: DAB Legislative Council Member (Election Committee) Horace Cheung, Lillian Kwok, Edward Leung

August 11, 2022 The DAB Training Committee and the Talent Development Committee co-organized a lecture series to commemorate DAB’s 30th Anniversary. They had the honor of inviting Mr. Lui, Director of the Research Department from the Chinese Institute of Hong Kong, to give a zoom lecture titled "The US-China Strategic Competition and the Role of Hong Kong" on Aug 11. In view of the continued provocations by the US, Mr. Lui described the current relationship between China and the US as "intensely confrontational". Although the focal point of the conflict had shifted to the Taiwan issue, the US still used Hong Kong to restrict China’s development, and we should not let our guard down. As for Hong Kong’s role in the US-China strategic competition, Mr. Lui stated that Hong Kong cannot lead the fight, but can be a "lubricant" to moderate the conflict between China and the US.

August 10, 2022 The DAB fully supported the white paper on "The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era" released by the central government today. The white paper clearly stated that separatists soliciting foreign aid and seeking independence would be stuck in a deadend, outlined the bright prospects for peaceful reunification in accordance with One country, Two systems and clarified that peaceful reunification would be the best way forward for the Chinese people and the world. The successful implementation of One Country, Two Systems in Hong Kong proves that One country, Two systems is a practicable, well-implemented and outstanding system and the best approach to realising national reunification. The DAB will continue to safeguard the implementation of One country, Two systems in Hong Kong, and strive to accomplish the great reunification of the country.