2020.02.25 Covid-19 continues to threaten Hong Kong.  Legislative Councillor Wilson Or met with Deputy Director Ricky Yeung of the Housing Department (HD) alongside many DAB District Councillors and District officers on February 25th and proposed a series of anti-epidemic measures in public housing estates.  We also urged the Housing Authority (HA) to provide financial relief for eligible business tenants.  The measures are as follows: 1. Strengthen cleaning and disinfecting work in public housing estates Provide clear guidelines for property management companies to enhance the environmental hygiene of the housing estates and estate shopping centres.  The government should allocate additional resources for cleansing and security contractors in public housing estates to procure anti-epidemic supplies, especially masks, protective clothing and antiseptic products. 2. Further reduce rent for business tenants Due to the continuing negative impact of the coronavirus on the business environment, the HA should reduce rent for business tenants for at least another 3 months until June to help them navigate this difficult period. 3. Reduce rent for car parks The virus outbreak has also affected the transportation industry.  The HA should reduce rents by half for car parks to relieve the pressure on tenants. Media Inquiries: DAB Legislative Councilor Wilson Or (9266 1035)

2020.02.25 The Education Bureau (EDB) announced that the Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (DSE) would be held as scheduled on March 27th while the Chinese oral exam will be deferred to May.  The exam results release day will be postponed to July 15th.  Anti-epidemic measures will be carried out in exam centres. These include daily disinfection, increasing space between seats, and candidates have to measure their body temperature and wear a mask before entering the centres. We understand and agree with the decisions the EDB and the HKEAA made to minimize the impact on candidates.  We urge mainland candidates taking the exams to return to Hong Kong as soon as possible to undergo the 14-day quarantine in due time. If they show signs of fever or infection, they should not be allowed to take the exam.  The HKEAA should keep updating the information of this batch of mainland candidates and consider arranging them to designated examination venues in order to minimize the risk of infection. Meanwhile, the HKEAA should offer appropriate assistance to candidates stranded in Hubei or Wuhan should they wish to return to Hong Kong to take the exam. To respond to the worries of many parents that their children’s proactive studying habits and progress will suffer during the long break from classes, we urge the EDB to provide technical support or share experience to schools in need to help them quickly set up electronic platforms for teaching and providing exercises, so as to “suspend classes without suspend learning”. Kindergartens and primary schools should provide adequate staffing to take care of children who need to go back to school to ease the burden on their working parents. Due to the delay in the resumption of classes, private education institutes such as tutorial centers and other after-school learning classes will be adversely affected even further. We urge the government to relieve their financial pressure by including these education institutes in the list eligible for the second round of the Anti-epidemic Fund. Media Inquiries: DAB Legislative Councilor Horace Cheung (9681-8757) Vincent Cheng (6373-1979)

2020.02.24 During the anti-extradition bill protests, more than 100 teachers constituted a breach of professional conduct by disseminating hate speech on social media.  The Education Bureau (EDB) issued warning or reprimand letters to some cases in order to warn against bad examples. However, hostility against the Police continues as a senior teaching staff member from Confucius Hall Secondary School made hostile remarks in an acrostic poem against the Police and their families which was posted on social media. This is utterly unacceptable and we denounce any teachers or related staff such as this teaching staff member who neglect warnings from the EDB and breached professional conduct by using hate speech against the Police again.  We have learned in the school’s statement that an individual panel will be set up to investigate the case and that the teacher is temporarily suspended from work.  We think these preliminary approaches are appropriate and thereby urge the school in question to strictly investigate this case. The EDB should intervene if necessary and take disciplinary actions as appropriate.  At the same time, the EDB should review the current guidelines to prevent such incidents from happening again. Media Inquiries: DAB Legislative Councilor Horace Cheung (9681-8757)

2020.02.20 One Hong Konger stuck in Japan is confirmed as being in serious condition Vincent Cheng urges the HKSAR government to send a medical specialist team to provide assistance The Diamond Princess Cruise Ship has arranged passengers to disembark and around a hundred Hong Kong residents have returned to Hong Kong and accepted quarantine. There remains over 50 Hong Kong coronavirus patients along with over 30 in close contact staying behind in Japan (Kanagawa Prefecture) for medical care and observation. DAB Legislative Councilor Vincent Cheng is deeply concerned about them and paid visits to three hospitals to meet with medical staff. He also demanded the HKSAR government to quickly set up a medical specialist team for infectious diseases to travel to Japan and assist the Hong Kongers undergoing medical treatment there. Vincent has received requests for assistance from 40 confirmed coronavirus patients and 21 others in close contact with patients. He has successfully contacted them directly via hospital communication systems to understand their situation and specific requests. They are worried that their medical treatment progress will be affected due to the language barrier with Japanese medical personnel. On the other hand, a female Hong Kong coronavirus patient staying at St. Marianna Medical University Hospital in Kawasaki is confirmed to be in serious condition. Vincent Cheng has met with the doctor in charge and learned that the hospital is already preparing to provide intensive medical care for her. Her family has urged the HKSAR government to quickly offer assistance. Vincent Cheng earlier organized a group of volunteer Japanese interpreters to provide timely translations through telephone to help the hospitalized Hong Kong residents and hope to alleviate the difficult situation they face in Japan. Vincent hopes the government will assist Hong Kong residents stuck in Japan with the following measures: Set up a medical specialist team for infectious diseases to go to Japan and assist the patients there. Centralize scattered patients into 2 to 3 hospitals to facilitate assistance from the HKSAR Special Task Force (STF) , and liaise these hospitals via the Embassy of China in Japan. Send out a third STF to provide a single centralized platform to assist Hong Kong people stuck in Japan including case management services. Provide translation services and translation devices. Continue to send supplies to Hong Kong residents stuck in Japan via the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo. Quickly announce the details regarding the repatriation of Hong Kong people from Japan. Media Inquiries: Vincent Cheng 6373 1979

2020.02.20 On February 20th, the MTRC announced that this year they will freeze fares on all lines and exempt two month’s rent for all tenants in MTRC shopping centres and MTR stations. DAB Legislative Councillor Ben Chan welcomes these supportive measures. He mentioned that on the commission day (Feb 14) of the Tuen Ma Line, they had made similar requests to high-ranking MTRC staff that the MTRC should perform its social responsibility, freeze faires and reduce rental to get through this difficult time together with the general public. These proposals are proactively followed through by the MTRC and we hope the MTRC will continue to provide more incentives such as reducing fares to help everyone get through this difficult period of time. Media Inquiries: DAB Legislative Councilor Ben Chan (9274 7035)

2020.02.20 DAB Chairperson Starry Lee, Legislative Councillors Leung Che-Cheung and Holden Chow held a press conference with the Association for Hong Kong Catering Services Management Limited Yeung Wai-sing and member of the Commission on Poverty Yip Man-Pan to put forward the food and beverage industry’s proposals on the operation of the Anti-epidemic Fund (the Fund). The DAB demands the Fund to simplify the approval procedures and shorten the approval time. Yeung Wai-sing points out that the food and beverage industry is heading into winter and the funding support is urgently needed to cover wages of large number of employees. He expects the government can further enhance the support on top of the $200,000 subsidies. The DAB also requests the government to ease the financial burden on restaurants by reducing rent of government properties and strengthening efforts made to facilitate rents deduction of shopping centres. The government should provide tax incentives to encourage owners to reduce rents and provide unemployment assistance fund to those underemployed to get through this difficult period. The DAB stresses that the government should hold over the provisional profits tax of the catering industry allowing them to have enough cash flow to pay wages. The DAB also suggests the government to make good use of both Community Care Fund and the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund established by the Commission on Poverty to provide support for the food and beverage industry to transform from a “dining in orientation” to “takeout-oriented” model. Media Inquiries: DAB Legislative Councilor Leung Che-Cheung 9016 8088 DAB Legislative Councilor Holden Chow 3703 9870 Commission on Poverty member Yip Man-pan 5118 2009

2020.02.20 DAB Legislative Councillor Ben Chan pointed out that although the Anti-epidemic Fund allocates $3.23 billion to support the transportation sector which is one of the first and hardest hit sectors, it does not cover cross boundary transportation. Therefore, on February 20th Ben Chan arranged a meeting with Under Secretary for Transport and Housing Dr. Raymond So along with representatives from Hong Kong Guangdong Boundary Crossing Bus Association Limited and Chu Kong Shipping Enterprises. Ben Chan said that it was tantamount to suspending the industry when the government announced the implementation of a 14-day mandatory quarantine. The representatives from the industry put forwards the following demands for Dr. So. 1) Increase the subsidy for cross boundary coach operators Provide a one-time subsidy of around $150,000 to $200,000, depending on the size of the vehicle, for each A05 (international passenger service) vehicle to cover their operational costs. 2) Provide a one-time $4000-$5000 insurance fee subsidy. 3) Enhance the support for cross boundary ferry Exempt or reduce corresponding fees collected from operators, such as terminal facilities rentals, management fees, system maintenance fees and royalties when ferry service are suspended. Provide subsidies to cater the salary expenses for employees and ship bottom cleaning fees after resuming services.

2020.02.18 The DAB Hong Kong Island Legislative Councillor Horace Cheung alongside the DAB branch offices on Hong Kong Island set up a one-stop comprehensive “Hong Kong Island Anti-epidemic Platform” that seeks to integrate resources and efforts to fight the virus. This platform provides six major services in the first phase: (1) Donation: hand out masks, household bleach, hand sanitizers and other anti-epidemic products to residents in need who have registered. (2) Group buying: organize group buying of anti-epidemic products and daily necessities so that local residents are still able to purchase these goods at reasonable prices during this difficult time. (3) Free meal delivery: we have liaised some restaurants to provide free meal delivery service for those elderly and disadvantaged who do not dare to go out to buy food during this difficult time. (4) Fresh food delivery service: provide fresh food free delivery service to registered members who want to save masks and make their own meals at home. (5) Latest epidemic news: update epidemic news via various media channels and arrange doctors to provide practical and professional medical advice to fight the virus. (6) Other services: studying the feasibility of “online doctor services” for senior care centres to allow seniors to access medical services via video calls instead of visiting hospitals or clinics during the virus outbreak. Media Inquiries: DAB Legislative Councilor Horace Cheung 9681 8757

2020.02.16 DAB Legislative Councillor Vincent Cheng met with Zhan Kong-chao, Counsellor and Consul General of Chinese Embassy in Japan after arriving in Japan on February 16th. Vincent Cheng expressed the concern of the Hong Kong people stranded aboard and asked the Consul General to request the health authority of Japan to conduct quick tests on passengers from Hong Kong starting from the 16th and disembark them after the confinement period if the samples tested negative. That evening, Vincent received calls from the Hong Kong people that they have completed the tests. In the afternoon the same day Vincent held a meeting with Thomas Wu, representative of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Tokyo and the representatives from the Immigration Department. They discussed the detailed arrangements of chartered flights, hospitalization of passengers infected with Covid-19 and the follow-up quarantine procedure in Hong Kong. Vincent is strongly concerned about the infection control of and sufficient protective equipment on the chartered flights to prevent cross-contamination of these 300-some Hong Kong people. The quarantine procedure in Hong Kong was also a major topic of discussion during the meeting. Vincent pointed out that most of the Hong Kong people who tested negative for covid-19 wanted to undergo their quarantine period at home rather than in a government quarantine centre. Vincent hopes that the government will take an understanding view of the situation and take appropriate measures after assessing the risks. Vincent will closely follow up the 15 confirmed covid-19 cases of Hong Kong passengers as they undergo hospital treatment in Japan. Vincent and the DAB will continue to provide assistance and urge the government to take prompt action to help the Hong Kong people stranded abroad. Media enquiries: Vincent Cheng 6373-1979

2020.02.14 After the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, people avoid going out and so as the number of blood donors have dropped. The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) announced that the blood banks are running low and the daily amount of blood collected has been unable to meet the demand of hospitals. The BTS appealed to the general public today (January 23) to donate blood immediately to replenish the blood supply as soon as possible. In response to the appeal, DAB Legislative Councillors Starry Lee, Wilson Or and Kwun Tong District Councilor Frankie Ngan alongside with other DAB members Chan Kok-wah, Hung Kam-in, Eric Tam, Roger Kwan, Alvin Chiu, Iris Wong and Derek Tsang today went for donation at the donor centres.

2020.02.14 The Tuen Ma Line (TML) Phase 1 has been commissioned today. DAB Legislative Councilor Wilson Or, Elizabeth Quat, Ben Chan along with other DAB members conducted a visit to the Line to better understand the service and facilities of the new railway line. Facilities and Signage Elizabeth Quat was pleased to see the baby care rooms that she fought for many years to create were finally set up in Hin Keng, Diamond Hill and Kai Tak Stations. Nevertheless, signs for interchange and baby care rooms are not clear enough and need improvement. She hoped that the MTR will extend these baby care rooms and toilets to other stations and add more user-friendly facilities to cater for the needs of the public. Fares and Shop Rental Ben Chan said that the fares of West Rail are more expensive than the East Rail. He hoped that the fares of the West Rail can be reduced as now the new line links up the two rails. With the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, property developers have announced a rent reduction. The MTR whose majority shares are held by the government should perform its social responsibility to reduce shop rentals. Take note of the capacity Wilson Or worried that the TML will increase the burden on the Kwun Tong Line and fill the already full Kwun Tong Line to unbearably high levels. He urged the MTR to take timely measures. According to the Railway Development Strategy 2014, the government recommended the East Kowloon Line project. However, residents of Kowloon East have waited for years without any further announcement on this proposal. Wilson urged the government to expedite the implementation of this project to match the housing development of the areas and ease the pressure on the Kwun Tong Line. Make the entire line operational as soon as possible Ben Chan again expressed the views of residents living around Sung Wong Toi and To Kwa Wan stations that the MTRC provide fare subsidies on the line and provide free shuttle bus services to and from Kai Tai and Ho Man Tin stations. Anti-virus contagion work MTR stations and compartments are high-trafficked. DAB Legislative Councillors expressed their concern regarding anti-virus contagion work performed by the MTR and they hope that escalator handrails, lifts, ticket machines etc. should be sterilized at least once every hour. The MTR should also increase hand sanitizer supplies to protect the health of commuters.

2020.02.13 We urge the government to allow Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners to join the fight against covid-19 and provide a special subsidy for much-creditable healthcare staff. DAB Legislative Councillors Ben Chan, Starry Lee and Vincent Cheng met with the Under Secretary for Food and Health (FHB) Dr. Chui Tak-Yi and set out two proposals for the FHB: to allow Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners to join the fight against covid-19, and provide a special subsidy for much-creditable healthcare staff as a reward and encouragement. Hong Kong is currently facing with both new novel coronavirus and influenza. The situation is very difficult and the government should adopt a multi-pronged approach for prevention work. We urge the government to mobilize all medical professionals to deal with the virus, that means to quickly coordinate qualified TCM practitioners to work on a Chinese and Western medicine co-op platform, share the burden of fighting the virus and ease the pressure placed on the medical system. Currently, many people are confined in government quarantine centres and their medical conditions are concerned. We propose allowing qualified TCM practitioners to provide outreach consultation services in order to monitor their health condition and help them strengthen their immune systems to fight off the virus. On the other hand, many healthcare staff stood firm, stayed on the front line and endured unnecessary pressure during a handful of healthcare staff went on strike. We urge the government to reward their devotion and dedication to the society by providing a special subsidy to them. The DAB expressed once again our greatest respect for those front-line healthcare staff keeping to their post during this difficult time. Media inquiries: DAB Legislative Councilor and spokesperson on health Ben Chan (9274 7035) DAB Chairperson and Legislative Councilor Starry Lee (7770 0820) DAB Legislative Councilor and spokesperson on employment Vincent Cheng (6373 1979)