2020.04.29 On April 29th, the YoungDAB discussed taught master’s and PhD programs, living expenses loan for full-time postgraduates and e-learning with the Political Assistant to the Secretary for Education (PASE) Jeff SZE. Hong Kong’s economy has been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak. The unemployment rate continues to rise and the labor market getting worse. Newly graduated university students find difficulties in finding jobs this year. The YoungDAB welcomes the “Targeted Taught Postgraduate Programmes Fellowships Scheme” (TTPPFS) launched by the University Grants Committee (UGC) that students of taught master’s and PHD programs can pursue further studies and improve their knowledge and competitiveness. The YoungDAB invites the UGC to expand the scheme to cover all registered taught postgraduate programs so that students from different backgrounds can get funding and facilitate job seeking in the future by choosing a program that fits their own career development needs. As the youth unemployment rate is expected to rise, the employment and financial situation of newly graduated students are worrying. Most students have stopped their part-time jobs during the COVID-19 outbreak thus their income decreased significantly. We propose the government to set up a living expense loan for students in need to support their living. Classes of primary and secondary schools remain suspended under the COVID-19 outbreak. To achieve “suspending classes without suspending learning”, teaching and learning at home are ongoing via live broadcasts and videos. E-learning has been promoted in Hong Kong for many years with somewhat disappointing results. Moreover, each school has provided support at different level on information technology. The YoungDAB urges the government to learn the lesson and review the policy and support for promoting e-learning. The EB should reorganize its teaching materials after the stopping of educational tv programs broadcast, and promote a unified e-learning program to alleviate the burden of home teaching on schools and teachers. Media Inquiries: YoungDAB Director Frankie NGAN (6600 2511) Chairperson Noel SHIH (9544 8811)

2020.04.29 A. Survey Background Continuing on the first survey back in March, the DAB conducted the second survey to better understand people’s latest situation on anti-epidemic and to craft suitable recommendations for the government. B. Abstract of survey results We have successfully interviewed 1,180 residents asking them about the mask inventory at home, comments on supply of masks and other anti-epidemic products, gathering habits, changes in income, views on the unemployment crisis and the anti-epidemic fund, mental health status, and evaluation of the government ’s epidemic prevention work. C. Survey Analysis 1) The mask supply has increased and remains the biggest concern among the public. Most respondents have 2-3 weeks’ or even up to a month’s or more supply of masks. Although fears of a mask shortfall have been alleviated but concerns remain. 2) The prohibition on public gatherings has clear effects on reducing social contact. Most respondents have cut down on public gatherings, but around 10% of respondents said they will still attend social gatherings which is a loophole in society’s fight against the coronavirus. 3) Respondents are worried about the ongoing unemployment crisis, and they have expectations on the anti-epidemic fund. Close to 40% of respondents said their incomes have dropped drastically. Most respondents worried about themselves or their family members being unemployed and believed the fund will help to protect employment. This shows the public’s expectations of the fund on combating unemployment. 4) The survey finds that the COVID-19 outbreak has an adverse effect on respondents’ mental health. 40% of respondents said they suffered emotional disturbance due to the coronavirus. As they experience both violent riots and the virus outbreak, the mental health of residents stay at an alarming level. 5) Respondents’ appraisal of the government’s anti-epidemic measures is considered as half and half. Close to 60% of respondents are satisfied with the government’s anti-epidemic performance. It can be considered as the results of the government’s stricter measures taken at the end of March and the decrease of confirmed cases in Hong Kong from early April onwards. There are around 40% of respondents dissatisfied with the performance of the government. D. Proposals 1) Cancel the asset review of the unemployment allowance, and provide a monthly grant of $6,000 to the unemployed for a period of not less than 3 months 2) Promote phase 3 of the anti-epidemic fund as soon as possible to cover industries which are not benefited by either phase of the fund. Allow aged 65 or above employees or long terms casual labors into the Employment Support Scheme (ESS). Provide $9,000/month for six months to workers without MPF contributions. Expand the “Anti-epidemic Hardship Allowance” to cover all cleaning and security staff of non-residential properties. Encourage more property owners to reduce rents by providing a 200% tax subsidy. 3) Improve the information dissemination arrangements for the anti-epidemic fund. Many enterprises and people complained that the information dissemination arrangements are backward and lack promotion. We urge the government to quickly set up a one-stop portal for the fund and enhance the online and offline promotion. 4) We urge the public to remain vigilant and reduce social contact. The government should examine the state of the virus outbreak before making decisions on whether to loosen or tighten the restrictions on public gathering and operation of certain businesses accordingly. Also, the rioters have recently gathered and vandalized properties that increased the risk of local transmission. We condemn these violent actions and demand them to stop at once. We support the police efforts to strictly uphold the law and protect the health and safety of the people. 5) We urge the government to speed up the digitization of public services, especially prioritize the licensing, taxation, and library services to allow residents and businesses to access these public services without showing up in person. We expect the government will be able to catch up on the large backlog of cases in recent months. 6) We continue to urge the government, manufacturers, and retailers to establish a “Public-Private Partnership (PPP) purchasing platform” for masks. Those officially recognized and funded businesses or organizations are eligible to supply masks to the public at a discount. ​ 7) We urge the government to closely monitor the mental health of the public and improve outreach efforts to allow people in need to know where to access the psychiatric support to prevent their mental health from getting worse. Media Inquiries: Starry LEE, DAB Chairperson (7770 0820)

2020.04.25 HKSAR Government mapping our arrangements of charter flights to allow Hong Kong residents stranded in India and Pakistan returning home India, Pakistan and other countries are carrying out the nationwide lock-down measures under the current epidemic. The DAB Ethnic Minorities Committee and the Vincent Cheng Legislative Council Office have received more than 700 cases of Hong Kong residents seeking assistances, involving more than 1,000 people stranded in those regions with candidates for the current secondary school diploma exam, pregnant women and chronically-ill patients. For different reasons, they desperately hope to return to Hong Kong as soon as possible. After submitting the information of stranded residents and reflecting their request to the Security Bureau a few days ago, DAB met with the Security Bureau again last weekend. We have been informed that the SAR Government has successfully contacted the airline and is arranging for charter flights back to Hong Kong from both India and Pakistan in batches. Passengers will pay their own costs. After meeting with the Director of the Security Bureau and the Consul General of Pakistan in Hong Kong, the DAB met with another member of the Legislative Council, Regina Ip, and representatives of the Security Bureau last weekend to follow up the assistance of Hong Kong residents stranded in India, Pakistan, Nepal and other places returning to Hong Kong . We were also informed that the Government received more than 4,000 requests for assistance from India and more than 3,000 from Pakistan. The Government have successfully contacted a number of help-seekers and sought assistance from the Chinese embassy in the local area and the consulates of the two countries in Hong Kong. The Government will arrange charter flights to bring these Hong Kong residents back to Hong Kong in stages. If everything is ready, the whole operation will take 7 to 10 days for India, and 3 to 5 days for Pakistan. Arrangements will be made for Hong Kong residents stranded to return home, but only about 300 people can be picked up per flight. Those returning to Hong Kong must comply with the quarantine policies of the two places in terms of local departure and Hong Kong entry. The DAB made the following requests to the Security Bureau today: Distribute information about charter flights and assistance to Hong Kong residents in need; Contact all help-seekers as soon as possible to understand their needs and provide assistance; Take care of those who have special needs to return to Hong Kong, such as students, pregnant women and chronically-ill patients or those in need of drugs, when returning to Hong Kong in batches; Ensure that these Hong Kong residents return to Hong Kong in a safe and healthy manner. After returning to Hong Kong, they also need to undergo a 14-day quarantine arrangement.

2020.04.27 DAB Legislative Councillor Holden CHOW criticized the Environment Bureau (EB) is being perceived by the public of providing excuses for the oil companies to set the prices they do within the Panel for Economic Development (the Panel). He said the EB has the responsibility but lacks proactive action to tackle “fast hike, slow cut” phenomenon of petrol prices. He demands the EB to cooperate with the Competition Commission (CC) by submitting basic cost of petrol and related information to the CC and investigate price fixing. Holden CHOW also urges the EB to proactively introduce RON 95 products to the retail market to promote market competition and create more options for consumers. Legislative Councillor Elizabeth QUAT said that “fast hike, slow cut” phenomenon of petrol prices existed in Hong Kong for a long time that causes grievances among consumers. She received many complaints about paying the highest pump prices in the world despite international oil prices have declined to multi-year lows. Even thought she has passed the complaints to the CC, the CC always claims it is unable to handle after investigation, making people suspect whether the CC is truly working to serve the people of Hong Kong and cares about the adverse effects of high petrol prices on the quality of life. The government must no longer dodge the problem and quickly promote market competition to solve the problem of paying sky-high prices for petrol as soon as possible. DAB Legislative Councilor Elizabeth Quat (9031 7995)、Holden Chow(3703 9870)

2020.03.20 The COVID-19 outbreak continues and heavily hit our economy.  Many SMEs are at the risk of closing down.  DAB Legislative Councillors Wilson OR, Steven HO and Ben CHAN have always been deeply concerned with the business environment for tenants of public markets.  Recently, they have received some calls for help from these tenants who are undergoing severe financial strain and yet are not covered by the Anti-epidemic Fund, especially tenants of cooked food centres.  Therefore, we urge the government to fully support public market tenants with the following proposals: Subsidize stalls in cooked food centres under the FEHD Currently the “Anti-epidemic Fund” (the Fund) allows a one-off subsidy to support eligible food license holders (depending on the license, these businesses may receive anywhere from $80,000 to $200,000 per business).  However, cooked food stalls in public markets under the FEHD are unable to apply for subsidies as they do not have a food license which is exempted under the current legislation.  We urge the government to expand the scope of the Fund to cover these cooked food stalls in public markets. Implement rent concession for six more months or rent-free for six months Due to protests and riots, the government launched a six-month rent concession for public market stalls in October last year, but this measure will end in March.  We urge the government to quickly extend the concession to September (extending the concession period by half a year) and exempt the air-conditioning fee during this period, and exempt the rent of the hardest-hit cooked food centres under the FEHD from April to September. Oppose the FEHD raising rents According to the FEHD documents, the rental freeze for the public market stalls will expire on July 1st this year.  The authorities will then implement a new arrangement to adjust market rental annually to catch up with inflation. The rental will be adjusted in line with the average of the year-on-year rates of change in Consumer Price Index(A)(CPI(A)) in the 12-month period six months preceding the respective rental adjustment dates.  Calculating from July 1st of this year, the rents will rise by 2.9% per stall.  We strongly oppose this arrangement during the virus outbreak. Make the approval procedure of the Fund more user-friendly We urge simplifying the procedures of the Fund and shortening the time required to approve each case in order to provide financial aid to desperate retail tenants as soon as possible. Media Inquiries: DAB Legislative Councilor Wilson Or (9266 1035)、Steven Ho (2682 0155)、Ben Chan (9121 4919)

2020.04.17 DAB Legislative Councillors Wilson OR, LEUNG Che-Cheung and Holden CHOW met with the representatives from the music education industry and listened to their plight due to the COVID-19 outbreak. It was made worse because the industry has not benefited from either phase of the Fund. Representatives from music education centres said that they suffered a large drop in students since the social movements last September. As the COVID-19 outbreak began in February, the number of students have dropped to a further low ebb when the government suspended all classes and implemented social distancing. However, as these centres are exempt from acquiring educational licenses, they are not eligible to apply for the phase two of the Anti-epidemic Fund. Most music teachers are self-employed and do not have TVC for MPF, making it impossible to acquire financial assistance during this time. Earlier, Wilson OR also met with representatives from the sports education industry including the Hong Kong Recreation and Sports Professionals General Union, Hong Kong Artistes Guild, Newly Emerged Sports Association and the Hong Kong China Dodgeball Federation. They face similar challenges alongside the music education industry. The DAB urges the government to make up the shortfall caused by the virus outbreak and subsidize the whole education industry. Media Inquiries: Legislative Councilor Wilson Or ( 9266 1035)​

2020.04.16 India, Pakistan, Nepal and some other countries are undergoing “lockdown” due to the coronavirus. DAB Ethnic Minorities Committee chairperson Derek HUNG and DAB Legislative Councillor Vincent CHENG met with Secretary for Security John Lee alongside family representatives hoping that the government will provide assistance to Hong Kong residents stuck in those overseas countries. The DAB Ethnic Minorities Committee and Vincent CHENG have received more than 500 calls for assistance from Hong Kong residents stuck in those countries over the past two weeks. These calls for assistance come from pregnant mothers, chronic disease patients and a number of students who need to take the DSE. Many of them are holding HKSAR passports and traveled to those areas to visit relatives or for work-related purposes. Some of them also work in Hong Kong. They are worried that the lockdowns may be extended at any time so as to make it impossible to know when they could return to Hong Kong. We expressed their concerns with the Chief Executive recently and met with the Secretary for Security John Lee to pass along related information. We hope the government will help these Hong Kong residents come home in a safe and organized manner. Our appeals to the government are as follows: 1) The government should help contact and provide the needs of the Hong Kong residents currently in India, Pakistan and Nepal. 2) Contact the airlines and help these HKSAR residents fly safely back to Hong Kong in a way that follows local and Hong Kong anti-coronavirus protocols. 3) Discover if chartered flights are possible and set a ticket fare that the passengers can afford. Media Inquiries: Legislative Councilor Vincent Cheng (6373 1979)​

2020.04.16 DAB Legislative Councillor Holden CHOW and DAB Professional Affairs Committee Chair Christopher WONG, Vice chair Alvin CHIU and DAB Insurance Panel convener Ray CHING conducted a video conference with the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (FSTB) Joseph Chan to express disappointment with the second phase of the Anti-Epidemic Fund because it still does not cover insurance practitioners. They also expressed the adverse effect that the COVID-19 is wreaking on the insurance industry. They proposed several main points during the meeting: First, Ray CHING suggested the government to provide financial support for small and medium sized licensed insurance broker companies and insurance agencies within certain parameters (below 10 or 50 staff). Alvin CHIU also urged the government to provide direct case subsidies for licensed insurance practitioners to navigate this difficult time. Second, Holden CHOW and Christopher WONG urged the government to expand the scopes of remote processing arrangement to include general insurance such as fire, home care and employee insurance so as to enable insurance practitioners to keep their businesses. Third, Holden CHOW and Alvin CHIU urge the government to speed up the funding of SMEs to upgrade their computer systems in order to comply with the remote processing business mode. Media Inquiries: Legislative Councilor Holden Chow (3703 9870)

2020.04.15 The DAB Legislative Councillors met with Chief Executive (CE) Carrie Lam to exchange views on further optimization of the latest anti-epidemic measures. Details of the DAB’s further proposals attached with the letter to the CE are as follows: 1) The $81 billion Employment Support Scheme (ESS) should cover employees aged 65 or over without MPF contributions. The ESS states that all employers making MPF contributions to employees are eligible to apply funding. However, there are a considerable number of employees such as cleansing workers and security staff whom are 65 or above and do not contribute to the MPF. We propose the government to amend the ESS to accept other documents as proof of work as well, such as wage slips, employment contracts, working hours records, or statutory declarations signed by employers and employees. 2) Utilize the existing assistance payment mechanisms to speed up the disbursement of the $10,000 The government should utilize all possible assistance payment mechanisms, such as the Old Age Allowance, Old Age Living Allowance, Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, Disability Allowance, student subsidy and the Caring and Sharing Scheme to directly, quickly and simply hand out the $10,000 to eligible recipients in need. 3) Allow seniors aged 60-64 to enjoy the $2 transport fare concession via octopus cards The government announced that the $2 concession will be extended to seniors aged 60-64 this January, but details have not been announced as of this writing. The DAB urges the government to facilitate seniors aged 60-64 to enjoy the concession via individual octopus cards. 4) Set up a fund for the unemployed during adversity The government should set up a fund to assist the unemployed for at least 3 months and no less than $6000/month for any eligible applicant. Before the implementation of this fund, the government can temporarily relax the asset limits for the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme from 100% to at least 200% for the unemployed to apply. 5) Improve the "Love Upgrading Special Scheme" and promote “first-hire-then-train” The government should promote “first-hire-then-train” measures for full time students to apply for a cash subsidy according to course hours and recover parts of subsidy if students have not completed the training.

2020.04.14 A joint statement of the establishment camp Councillors in the establishment camp accused the statements made by Dennis KWOK himself and by the opposition parties in the press conference of misinterpreting the Basic Law and misleading the public. The fundamental policy of the Central Government towards Hong Kong is to uphold the sovereignty, safety and interest of the Nation and thereby maintain the long term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. Therefore, it is only a matter of course for both the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) and the Central People Government's Liaison Office in the HKSAR representing the Central Government to speak out on the shutdown of the House Committee that hampers the operation of the LegCo by way of filibuster and attempting the “total annihilation” of Hong Kong. Dennis KWOK saying that the Council is not paralyzed because the funding bill was passed in LegCo is also misleading. Other than passing the funding bill, the LegCo’s functions of examination and enactment of laws are hampered by the shutdown and total annihilation such that 14 major pieces of legislation and over 80 pieces of subsidiary legislation have been affected. In fact, the funding bill was passed purely due to the hard work of the Finance Committee. The opposition is ridiculous and devious in saying that they have not tried to block the process of LegCo. We have to emphasize that the opposition has already admitted of their attempt at putting political pressure on the government by prolonging the election of the House Committee chairperson. Trying to drag Hong Kong to the abyss is their handiwork. We demand the likes of Dennis KWOK to stop his red herrings and sophistic explanations. Facing the likes of Dennis KWOK and their constant attempts to drag Hong Kong to the abyss, councillors of the establishment camp will use all possible means, including pushing a motion of no confidence in Dennis KWOK, amending the rules of procedure and urging the Chairs of the both LegCo and last year’s House Committee to deal with the total annihilation within the Council. At the same time, we request the Department of Justice to proactively investigate whether Dennis KWOK is in contravention of article 104 of the Basic Law in regards to breaking the terms of his oath and is therefore guilty of malfeasance in public office.

2020.04.13 While answering questions raised by reporters, the spokesperson from the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) commented that the main responsibility for the House Committee not being able to elect a chairperson for half a year falls on the temporary chair and a group of opposition legislators whose abuse of power and malicious delaying tactics hampered the ability of LegCo to uphold its constitutional responsibilities. Their behavior of total annihilation in politics is suspected to break the terms of their oaths in office and they are suspected to have committed malfeasance in public office. As the House Committee cannot function properly, bills committees cannot be set up to discuss 14 major pieces of legislation along with over 80 pieces of subsidiary legislation. None of these pieces of legislation are able to be discussed before the amendment deadline by setting up sub-committees. There is a chance that the LegCo will lost the chance to examine bills concerning anti-epidemic and prohibition of group gathering promoted by the government to the House Committee. It is obvious that the operation of the LegCo is seriously hampered and under the current circumstances it is impossible for Legco to perform its duties required by the Basic Law. It is a matter of course for the Central Government to show concern over the issue and disapprove those legislators in the opposition who are deliberately paralyzing LegCo. It is also appropriate for the HKMAO which is in charge of Hong Kong affairs to make such comments. The DAB is extremely frustrated at the underhanded abuse of power used by the opposition to drag Hong Kong to the abyss and block the proper functioning of LegCo. Earlier we joined other establishment councilors to send out a statement strongly condemning the abuse of power by Dennis KWOK to delay procedures. Hong Kong is facing the COVID-19 outbreak and our economy is in a downward spiral so we can’t afford such infighting. The opposition’s attempts at hindering the normal functioning of LegCo will only harm the people of Hong Kong. We therefore strongly demand Dennis KWOK to apologize sincerely to the people of Hong Kong, correct the error and make it possible for LegCo to resume its function once more. Media Inquiries: Legislative Councilor Gary Chan (77700829)​

2020.04.09 We welcome the Court of Appeal’s reaffirmation that the urgent introduction of the anti-mask legislation does not violate human rights. It provides a clear legal basis for the government to handle public violence possibly be aroused again after the COVID-19 outbreak ends. DAB Legislative Councillor Holden CHOW said that opposition camp has constantly accused the anti-mask law of unconstitutionality and also a violation of human rights. This ruling by the Court of Appeal firmly rejected their sophistry. Also, DAB Legislative Councillor Horace CHEUNG considered the Court’s ruling has delivered two clear messages. First, the laws as they have existed since before the Handover remains in effect no matter how long ago the laws were promulgated. The general public should not be misled by the opposition camp that the emergency regulations ordinance (ERO) is no longer applicable and challenge the law. Second, the ruling has cited a legal basis to deal with emergency situations in Hong Kong. On top of the ERO, the other means require the Central Government to intervene. In the end, the Court of Appeal feels that the ERO is already sufficient to deal with the current situation. We believe it is the least controversial and best way to deal with the internal situation through local laws. Therefore, the ruling of the Court of Appeal receives our approval. Media Inquiries: DAB Legislative Councilor Horace Cheung (9681 8757)、Holden Chow(3703 9870)