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Published: 20:41, February 15, 2022 | Updated: 00:23, February 16, 2022
Additional $3.46b for Anti-epidemic Fund approved
By Chen Shuman and Wang Zhan
Published:20:41, February 15, 2022 Updated:00:23, February 16, 2022 By Chen Shuman and Wang Zhan

A child wearing a face mask, leaves after receiving a Sinovac COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine at a community vaccination center in Hong Kong ,Feb 15, 2022. (KIN CHEUNG / AP)

The Hong Kong Legislative Council Finance Committee on Tuesday approved allocating HK$27 billion ($3.46 billion) for the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund, which covers 48 relief measures meant to support 67,000 businesses and 750,000 individuals affected by the pandemic.

The new round of funding comes as the city is undergoing its fifth and worst wave of COVID-19 infections. On the same day as the funding announcement, Hong Kong reported 1,619 new cases, while 5,400 people tested preliminary-positive for the virus.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor  welcomed the passage of the government's funding application and thanked the LegCo Finance Committee

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor  welcomed the passage of the government's funding application and thanked the LegCo Finance Committee.

"With the full support of the central government and the cooperation of the community, the government will stand up to the challenge with unwavering determination and strong faith to lead Hong Kong out of the epidemic,” Lam was quoted as saying in the statement.

The relief measures are intended for businesses that were required to close or that were significantly restricted due to tightened social distancing measures; firms hard hit by the pandemic and their workers; frontline staff who have been making contributions to anti-pandemic efforts; and the temporarily unemployed.

The government will introduce Temporary Unemployment Relief —a first for the city— to provide a one-time flat-rate relief of HK$10,000 to lower-to-middle income full-time and part-time workers.

Another round of the Job Creation Scheme aims to create an additional 30,000 temporary jobs in the public and private sectors to help the unemployed re-enter the job market.

ALSO READ: Multiple initiatives to help fight HK's worsening virus outbreak

Supporting the plan, lawmaker Lo Wai-kwok called the subsidies a timely support to the residents in need. Another lawmaker, Ben Chan Han-pan, suggested a simpler application process.

Lawmaker Kingsley Wong Kwok pointed out that the eligibility to apply for the HK$10,000 subsidy is too strict, as applicants must have lost their jobs since late December.

He urged the government to further expand the program to include those who are underemployed or on unpaid leave.

Lam said she requested government departments involved in the implementation of various programs to seriously consider the views of LegCo members to maximize benefits

Lam said she requested government departments involved in the implementation of various programs to seriously consider the views of LegCo members to maximize benefits. 

“In fact, as at February 11, about one-third of the funding under the fifth round of the AEF, or around HK$1.1 billion, has been disbursed to the eligible enterprises and individuals,” Lam said.

“In the planning process, we have seriously made reference to the views of the LegCo Members and the trades, and, with a more compassionate attitude, endeavored to plug gaps in dealing with the businesses and individuals in need of support,” she added.

READ MORE: HK to use public estates, hotels to house COVID patients

Lam noted that LegCo members have also put forward suggestions in the consultation sessions conducted by Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on the 2022-23 Budget. 

“The Financial Secretary will deliver the 2022-23 Budget on February 23 and I believe that he will take into account the suggestions when formulating it,” Lam said.

“May I once again appeal to members of the public to stay confident during this difficult time, support the government's anti-epidemic work, and get vaccinated as soon as possible or in a timely manner to facilitate the implementation of the 'vaccine pass' initiative to be launched later this month. Let us all join hands to fight the epidemic," she said.

The government has distributed over HK$200 billion in the previous five rounds of similar subsidies, and an additional HK$120 billion in relief packages in the 2020-21 Budget.


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