2021.01.04 The COVID-19 pandemic has gripped the entire world. Not only does wave after wave of infections threaten the health of local residents, they also severely damage Hong Kong's economy. The DAB conducted a survey and learned the views of 1,150 local residents towards vaccinations, mandatory universal testing, unemployment as well as resumption of cross border travel and put forward several proposals based on the findings. A. Survey analysis The majority of respondents have faith in COVID-19 vaccines. Close to 70% of respondents are willing to proactively seek out vaccinations for COVID-19. This is a positive message to our local anti-epidemic works. More members of the public will proactively seek out vaccinations if such vaccines are found safe and reliable. Fear over potential harmful side effects and the immediate harm to health are two main reasons of respondents who do not proactively seek out vaccinations. The public believes that vaccines can positively help to resume travel with the Mainland and other places around the world. Over 75% of respondents hope to resume travel with the Mainland and Macao as soon as possible. Close to 70% of respondents support the proposal of allowing vaccinated travelers to be exempted from the 14-day quarantine when travelling to the Mainland. The public believes that “mandatory universal testing” will help cases drop to zero. Over 70% of respondents support “mandatory universal testing”, which reflects that the public believes such testing is effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19. The public continues to worry about the economy and their employment situation. Close to 65% of respondents say their or their family member’s earnings have decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also worry about unemployment of themselves or their family members. B. Proposals The government must properly prepare the COVID-19 vaccination scheme. Quickly seek out and “lock down” vaccination sites, arrange efficient logistics and transportation, recruit staff, kick launch of public messaging and registration and so on in accordance with the principle of “prepare ahead of time, plan ahead of time, announce ahead of time”. Thus, the public can get vaccinated once the vaccine reaches Hong Kong. We urge the government to provide more clinical data to increase public trust in the safety and reliability of vaccines to attract more people to proactively seek out vaccinations and build up “herd immunity” as soon as possible. The government should appeal the Central and Macao governments to allow vaccinated Hong Kong travelers with COVID-19 antibodies to be exempted from the mandatory 14-day quarantine. We urge the government to quickly implement “mandatory universal testing” and appeal the Central Government to send support teams of professionals to Hong Kong to defeat the epidemic. We urge the government to quickly establish a “temporary unemployment allowance” and improve the current plans to deal with unemployment. The government should also quickly create new jobs in both the public and private sectors. We call upon the general public to remain alert and continue to reduce social interactions. Through the cooperation of each member of the public, together we can save Hong Kong from the pandemic. Media Inquiries: Legislative Councilor Vincent Cheng (6373 1979)​、Ben Chan (9274 7035)

2020.11.02 Abstract of survey results Recently the government announced that Hong Kong and Singapore have reached an in-principle agreement to establish a travel bubble. The DAB interviewed over 1,000 Hong Kong people aged over 18 years from September 30th to October 8th regarding the “health codes” and “travel bubbles”. Survey results show that l close to half of respondents have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in regard to both work and leisure travel outside Hong Kong. around 77% of respondents are aware the discussions between the HKSAR government and other countries about the arrangement of “travel bubbles”. 63% of respondents are in favor of the government quickly implementing measures to set up travel bubbles. 54% of respondents said that they will go on travel through the “travel bubble”. close to 70% of respondents feel that $200 or less is a reasonable price to pay for virus testing before going on travel. around 72% of respondents agreed with the government implementing stronger measures to reduce the number of COVID cases in Hong Kong to zero to give other countries or regions the confidence of setting up travel bubbles with Hong Kong. 68% of respondents believe the setting up of travel bubbles and a Hong Kong health code will stimulate local spending and promote the economy. The survey results show that the public generally support the implementation of travel bubbles and a local health code. The government should encourage competition by opening up more virus testing centers and cut the doctor’s verification cost to lower virus testing fees when implementing travel bubbles and a local health code. The government should also implement stronger measures to reduce the number of COVID cases in Hong Kong to zero. These measures include mandatory virus testing, strengthen public essaging for the public to better understand the civic responsibility of taking mandatory virus testing. In addition, the government should improve existing provisions to facilitate the launching of the mutually recognized health codes with the Mainland and Macao, so as to open up the border and revive both travel and the economy. Finally, the government should provide further support measures for the travel and exhibition industries, such as extend the “Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme” to cover rental and exhibition costs at venues other than the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and Asiaworld Expo; extend the “SME Export Marketing Fund” to cover local activities in order to help SMEs survive under the pandemic; and provide cash assistance to subsidise companies and operators within the convention and exhibition industry. Media Inquiries: Legislative Councilor Vincent Cheng (6373 1979)​

2020.09.30 On September 30th the Central and Western District Council (“the council”) deliberately made things difficult for and insulted the police officers attending the meeting. In order to uphold the dignity of the police force, the Western District Commander Queenie WONG led the team to leave and held a press conference criticising such kind of provocative and humiliating rhetoric have been heard in various district councils. DAB Sham Shui Po District Councillor Ms. LAU Pui Yuk says that the opposition has purposely targeted police representatives after taking over control of the district councils. They made up spurious regulation “who cannot participate in the council meeting again” and “order” the police officer to “leave” the council. Ms. LAU Pui Yuk strongly condemns the opposition members and the chair of the Central and Western District Council. Their despicable behavior of purposely creating hardships for district commander Queenie WONG not only made a mockery of the council as it descended into farce, but it also neglects the rights of the general public. She hopes the opposition councillors stop, rescind their ridiculous and spurious “regulation”, respect the conduct of life and discuss welfare issues with the government in order for the district to prosper. Media Inquiries: Sham Shui Po District Councillor LAU Pui-yuk

Frankie Ngan: 30% off the supermarkets bill 2020.10.05 DAB Deputy Secretary-General and convenor of the “Supermarket Price Concern Group” Frankie NGAN received feedback that only designated members of the NGOs are eligible to receive $200 ParknShop cash vouchers. Many unemployed, underemployed people and those in urgent needs who are not “registered members” of designated non-profit NGOs are not able to benefit. Frankie NGAN pointed out that Singapore supermarket chain Giant, a subsidiary company of the Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd. which is also the parent company of the Wellcome supermarket, has reduced the price of daily necessities by 20% starting from September for 6 months. In response to Singaporean media, the Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd. provided consumers with lower and stable prices as public are worried about the stability of employment and income under the Covid-19 pandemic. “If Giant supermarkets in Singapore can cut prices by 20%, why Wellcome in Hong Kong, owned by the same company, is only freezing the price but not cut prices and hold a real sale?” According to the latest numbers from the Census and Statistics Department, the sales of local supermarkets generated in the first 8 months of 2020 totaled around $40 billion which is a rise of 12% against the market trend. “Supermarket Price Concern Group” convenor Frankie NGAN requests supermarket chains such as Wellcome and ParknShop that benefited from the Employment Support Scheme to cut prices by 30% on all bills every Sunday for at least three months to uphold their social responsibility of truly benefitting the general public as a whole. Media Inquiries: Frankie Ngan (6600 2511)

2020.11.02 The seven defendants have been acquitted of any charges stemming from the riot of August 31st. DAB Legislative Councillor Holden CHOW believes the general public are disappointed about the verdict. He is also concerned that the acquittals will cause a misunderstanding among the general public that participation in violent riots has no legal responsibilities and thereby other copycats are encouraged to go and break the law as well. In fact, the DOJ prosecution had originally charged the defendants with the offence of unlawful assembly as an alternative charge, but the judge rejected the arrangement. The court may have misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the principle of the utilisation of alternative charges. Holden CHOW urges the Department of Justice (DOJ) to quickly review the ruling and make an appropriate appeal using the Case Started method in order to uphold law and order and protect public security. ​ Media Inquiries: DAB Legislative Councilor Holden Chow(3703 9870)

2020.11.08 The District Councils Observers (“the Observers”) have received multiple complaints regarding opposition district councillors putting up many hateful, smearing, false and vengeful banners that even went so far as to attack specific businesses. Therefore, the Observers conducted an investigation in October and found a total of 84 such banners with the following contents: 1. Smearing the HKSAR and Central Governments Banners smearing the HKSAR or Central Governments make up the largest category. The opposition aims to gain political “brownie points” from their supporters, to chip away at the trust in the HKSAR and Central Government among the public through unrealistic and false information. 2. Misleading advertising/reports/statements Opposition district councillors always put up banners with false and misleading information, statements or reports to confuse right and wrong and to “muddy the waters”. 3. Hate speech Some banners are outright hate speech mostly directed against the National Security Law or at specific businesses or stores. 4. Hate speech against the police Many opposition district councillors spread hate speech against the police. It can only create division and serves no positive social purpose. 5. Business advertising or paid services Lands Department guidelines require that political organizations cannot set up banners advertising specific businesses or paid services to prevent a clash of interests or secret deals. However, an opposition district councillor in Sheng Shui hung an illegal banner regarding a service for paid flu shots. We urge the government to strictly implement the following proposals: 1. Set up a unified approval guideline for banners We urge the government to take the Housing Department’s procedures and guidelines for the approval of banners as reference and to set up a unified approval guideline for banners. The government should quickly dismantle unapproved or illegitimate banners, cancel those banner spots in question and charge the offending district councillor with the removal fee. 2. The HKSAR government should quickly refute false statements The government should take the problem seriously and set up effective counter-messaging efforts, e.g., government departments can also hang banners in districts refuting false statements or rumors. Media Inquiries: Sham Shui Po District Councillor LAU Pui-yuk

August 30th, 2020 5 dead removal team (DRT) members from the FEHD were sent to quarantine after handling remains of Covid-19 patients under unknown circumstances. DAB Legislative Councilors LEUNG Che Cheung and Holden CHOW as well as Chair of the DAB Tuen Mun Branch Terry YIP held a press conference on this issue. LEUNG Che Cheung and Holden pointed out this incident exposed loopholes in the government’s internal communication mechanism. DRT members did not get prior notice and were not properly equipped for handling remains of the infected patients. Furthermore, the DRT has only 72 staff members and suffers from a lack of personnel. Terry YIP also mentioned the government insisted that the DRT is not a “high risk” endeavor and did not respond to his earlier request for dealing the problems the DRT faced. We urge the government to address the shortage of staff, provide related training and subsidies to improve DRT’s benefits. On the other hand, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has to improve the communication mechanism so that other bureaus can be informed of confirmed COVID cases in a timely manner. All other government departments must also receive sufficient training and support in regard to dealing with confirmed COVID cases. Media enquiries: LEUNG Che Cheung, Legislative Councillor (9016 8088) Holden CHOW, Legislative Councillor (3703 9870) Terry YIP , Chair of the DAB Tuen Mun Branch (5118 2009)

August 29th, 2020 Ms. Cheung, the DAB volunteer in question, was handing out flyers about the Universal Community Testing Programme near 334 Shau Kei Wan Road at around 12:30 on August 29th when a man in his 40s suddenly stabbed his umbrella at her eyes and fled. Ms. Cheung had eye, head and arm injuries and was sent to hospital for overnight observation. Hong Kong is a free and civilized society. People can hold different political viewpoints but there is zero tolerance for anyone who violently threatens the safety of others to deprive of their freedom of expressing an opinion. We strongly condemn this barbaric assault and demand the police to bring the perpetrator to justice. Media enquiries: Legislative Councillor Horace CHEUNG (9681 8757)

August 14th, 2020 DAB Legislative Councillor Vincent CHENG met with the Secretary for Labour and Welfare LAW Chi Kwong to follow up on the progress of the government’s implementation of supporting policies and measures for employment affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vincent CHENG said that in response to the society’s concern on self-employed persons who have not benefited from the first round of the Anti-epidemic Fund, the second round of the Employment Support Scheme will specifically provide allowance for employed seniors 65 or above who have temporarily stopped paying into the MPF. Also, the Scheme will be open for application in the near future again by those around 100,000 self-employed persons eligible for the subsidy but have not submitted applications. We also urged the government to reconsider and treat those rejected applications more generously. The media reported that some unscrupulous employers are suspected to dismiss employees after receiving the subsidy to the point where their companies become “zero employees” while some companies are suspected to have closed after receiving the subsidy. Vincent CHENG quoted the government in saying that there are over 200 cases of “zero employees”, most of whom are small-scale enterprises. The government has set up a specialized group to strictly follow up on complaints. It will recover the subsidy via the mechanism if a company decreases the number of employees. If there is fraud, the case will be handed to law enforcement to deal with. As the unemployment situation in Hong Kong has not improved under the epidemic, Vincent CHENG hopes the government will continue to enhance its measures to support the unemployed. These include: Enhance the Working Family Allowance Scheme by setting up a level of total monthly working hours from 64 to 144 to provide a subsidy to those underemployed or being forced to suffer salary cuts. Set up an unemployment subsidy which does not require an asset means test and provide not less than 3 months of emergency subsidies for the unemployed. In the long term we should research and set up a system to protect the unemployed. Promote a subsidy encouraging employers to employ the unemployed or those who underwent Employees Retraining Board courses. Promote the 3rd round of the Anti-epidemic Fund and by connecting it to the 2nd round of the Fund to create a total of 60,000 temporary and time-bound job openings in both public and private sectors. Strengthen the functions of the Labour Department website and set up a new page posting government time-bound job openings specifically created under the pandemic in order to facilitate job seekers. Media enquiries: Vincent CHENG, Chairperson, Legislative Council Panel on Manpower, DAB Spokesperson on Manpower Affairs (6373 1979)

August 12th, 2020 The Chief Executive met with DAB Legislative Councillors and briefed them on the decision of the NPCSC to extend the sixth term of LegCo for no less than one year. The DAB expressed support for this decision as it resolved the issue of the lacuna in the legislature arising from the postponement of the election due to COVID-19. The DAB urged the government to grasp the time and mobilize the entire society to fight the virus together, helping Hong Kong overcome adversities while driving economic recovery to relieve people’s hardships. We also put forward four proposals for the CE: The CE should request LegCo to hold meetings as soon as possible to deal with pandemic-related issues such as amendments of laws or regulations, financial provision and the like. The government should utilize all means including mainland support and local volunteer teams to deal with the epidemic. We propose: Implement the “Universal Community Testing Programme” quickly and properly and send out specialized staff to collect specimens. Form a special team by civil servants to support the Programme. Strengthen the cooperation with district organisations by inviting them to help promotion of the Programme and maintain order at Community Testing Centres. Proactively coordinate with Mainland support teams to speed up the building of the module hospital at Asiaworld Expo Phase 2. Implement the Hong Kong Health Code to facilitate the re-opening of cross-border travel and transit between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, and as the basis for mutual recognition throughout the Greater Pearl River Delta region. Prepare well to deal with a 4th wave of COVID-19 possibly spreading in autumn and winter by enhancing preventive measures in quarantine work, border crossing point management, medical staff, medical equipment, isolation facilities, protective equipment, preventive measures in high risk areas such as hostels or schools, sourcing vaccines, etc. 3. Revive the economy and support employment Gradually relax restrictions on gatherings and restore economic activities when the epidemic situation becomes stable Utilize well the unspent funding of the 2nd round of the Anti-epidemic Fund and launch the 3rd round to support enterprises in need. Urge commercial properties owners to reduce rents. Distribute special consumption vouchers and hold city-wide sales promotions in coordination with the retail and food and beverage industry after the epidemic to stimulate domestic consumption. Create 60,000 temporary jobs to ease the pressure of unemployment. 4. Improve election arrangements to ensure a fair, open and safe election Implement arrangements allowing voters in the Mainland to vote in Mainland. Adopt an electronic mode of ballot paper distribution. Set up a special passageway in voting stations to take care of the elderly, pregnant women, persons with disability or require special assistance. Diverse voters queuing at polling stations by increasing the number of polling stations, add in time-segment or even voting in different days with reference to overseas experience. The DAB’s proposals on social, economic and governance reforms will be submitted when discussing with the Chief Executive the coming Policy Address. ​

August 11th, 2020 The DAB supports the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) on the Sixth Legislative Council to extend the term of all members for no less than one year. The government has decided to postpone the 2020 Legislative Council general election for a year. We regarded it as a necessary decision to protect public safety and public health of Hong Kong people as well as prevent and control the severe COVID-19 epidemic situation. As a matter of fact, many elections have been postponed across the globe due to COVID-19. The NPCSC’s decision has been made upon full consideration of such exceptional circumstances and in accordance with the report submitted by the SAR government. The decision was also in conformity with the law and the interests of Hong Kong society as a whole, fully resolving the issue of the lacuna in the legislature arising from the postponement of the election. This is a very important decision in regards to the normal operation of both the HKSAR government and the economy as it is a vital prerequisite for Hong Kong to focus its resources and fight the pandemic, revive the economy and improve the standard of living of the general public. We hope that in the upcoming year various parties in LegCo will safeguard the overall interest of Hong Kong and ensure the proper functioning of the LegCo so as to effectively vetting various laws, funding and economic and livelihood policies regarding the prevention of the epidemic. We also call on the HKSAR government to review and perfect election arrangements to ensure the election scheduled for September next year will be conducted openly and fairly. ​

January 7th,2020 On January 7th 11 DAB members met with Mr. HE Jing, the Deputy Director of the Central People Government’s Liaison Office in HKSAR, and expressed our concerns with the “unknown pneumonia” in Wuhan.  We urge the Central Government and the government of Wuhan to enhance prevention and control measures to prevent the spread of the disease.  Mr. HE responded that the Liaison Office will reflect the advices of the DAB to the Central Government and relevant departments. Our suggestions include the following: Take every measure to save patients. Identify and trace the origins and pathology of this “unknown pneumonia”. Strengthen the communication between the National Health Commission, the Wuhan Health Commission and the Food and Health Bureau of HKSAR so as to share information instantly. Release latest progress in prevention and control work on a daily basis to stabilize public sentiment and counter rumors. Enhance screening of travelers traveling between Hong Kong and Wuhan at airports and land route ports and take appropriate measures on travelers with health risks. Strengthen the dissemination of health messages to travelers traveling between Hong Kong and Wuhan on flight, airports, land route ports and XRL. As the transportation during the Lunar New Year is starting soon, the Central Government should strengthen its monitoring to prevent “unknown pneumonia” from spreading through the transportation. The DAB will meet the Food and Health Bureau of the HKSAR shortly to express our concerns with the “unknown pneumonia” and discuss ways to enhance prevention, treatment, community hygiene and public awareness. The DAB will also organize activities to appeal the public to observe personal and environmental hygiene. Media Inquiries: Starry LEE, DAB Chairperson 7770 0820