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Written by: McCain
2020-04-01 08:02
Last updated: 2020-04-01 08:02The new crown epidemic continued, and the government applied to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for 25 billion for the epidemic prevention and anti-epidemic fund. The first 24 measures include a one-off grant to the transport industry, travel agencies, restaurants and retailers; the government is also studying the scope of the second round of funding. Many political parties and groups have asked the government to expand the industries it finances, such as the aviation industry, education, etc., as well as the establishment of unemployment assistance funds, and even the establishment of food banks to help the grassroots to overcome the difficulties.
▼ The value of retail sales in February fell 44%, the largest drop in history in Tsim Sha Tsui ▼
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Chief Executive Lin Zheng Yue'e announced on February 14 the establishment of more than 25 billion yuan in epidemic prevention and anti-epidemic funds. The first round of 24 measures has been implemented, including the provision of food to restaurants in the food industry, fisheries and live marine fish marketing, local transportation, exhibitions. Sectors, travel agencies, hotels, and retailers provide lump-sum allowances ranging from $ 5,000 to $ 200,000. In addition, the first-lose measure also adds an additional 1,000 yuan in student allowances for the 2019-20 school year, and a monthly subsidy of 1,000 yuan for outsourced cleaning and security personnel.
The government is studying the launch of the second round of epidemic prevention and anti-epidemic funds. It is reported that the government intends to add weight to the hard-hit catering, tourism and retail industries, and also hopes to benefit industries not covered by the first round of measures. Lin Zhengyue revealed that the second round of anti-epidemic fund involved tens of billions of yuan of expenditure.
▼ Epidemic prevention banned more than four people to close multiple facilities ▼
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There are also omissions in the first round of industries that have benefited
Although in the first round of measures, the subsidy included at least 6 industries, there were still omissions in the details. For example, the transportation industry is limited to providing non-franchised buses with a subsidy of 20,000 yuan; each licensed school private minibus, taxi and truck provides a lump sum of more than 10,000 yuan; each cross-border ferry provides a lump sum subsidy of over 1 million yuan, In addition, the aviation industry has not been funded under the closure of flights.
As early as February 6, the Transport Department announced the suspension of cross-border buses at the Shenzhen Bay Port, as well as the Guangdong-Hong Kong cross-border buses at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port. Under the first round of current funding, cross-border buses can only receive RMB 20,000 per bus and RMB 10,000 for minibuses; however, under the limit of licenses, buses cannot be converted into local passenger transport business. I previously issued a joint letter requesting criticism that funding was not sufficient under the long-term suspension. I hope the government will grant a one-off allowance to vehicles holding A05 (International Passenger Service Endorsement) licenses and assistance for issuing insurance premiums.
The aviation industry's customs clearance in foreign countries has also been severely hit. Hong Kong's passenger flights have dropped by half from 28,000 in January to 14,000 in February. It is expected that the figure will reach a new low in March. Many flight attendants have to take unpaid leave because of the grounding, and employees working at the airport have also been affected; they have not supported under the first round of measures.
Under the epidemic, the whole class was suspended in Hong Kong. In the first round of measures, we only talked about providing subsidies to school buses and child care centers. However, other education industries, such as tutorial schools and education centers, did not have any knowledge.
Industry Benefited by First Round of Anti-epidemic Fund
| industry | Amount or measure |
| Construction industry | Granting one-time grants to contractors to earn epidemic prevention supplies, benefiting 240,000 construction workers |
| 2. Public and private properties | RMB 26,000 once for epidemic prevention allowance Workers and security guards 1,000 yuan extra monthly allowance |
| 3. Cleaning and security industry | Government and HKHS contractors' cleaning and security staff provide an additional allowance of $ 1,000 per month |
| 4. I & T and industry | 1,800 tenants in Science Park, Industrial Village and Cyberport waive rent for 6 months |
| 5. Transportation industry | $ 10,000 to $ 20,000 |
| 6. Licensed travel agency | 80,000 yuan |
| 7. Licensed Hotel | 50,000 yuan or 80,000 yuan |
| 8. Licensed restaurants | 200,000 yuan or 80,000 yuan |
| 9. Licensed Hawker | 5,000 yuan |
| 10. Live fish distributors and fishing vessels | 80,000 to 200,000 yuan |
| 11. Retailers | 80,000 yuan |
| 12. Exhibition Industry | Full waiver of borrowing for MICE and ABO local exhibitors can subsidize 50% of fees, up to 10,000 yuan |
| 13. Art and Culture | 15,000 to 80,000 yuan |
| 14. Child Care Centre | 4-month allowance |
The airport was deserted under the epidemic. (Profile picture / Photo by Zhang Haowei)
Some first-round industries that have not benefited
Aviation industry
Beauty industry
3. Tutorial Center Education Center
Fitness industry
5. FDH Intermediary Business
6. Laundry
Several political parties urge the establishment of an unemployment fund
The epidemic has not yet peaked, but many industries may have layoffs in the future; many political parties have previously met with the Secretary of Home Affairs Zhang Jianzong to express their views. Zhang Jianzong also acknowledged in his blog that epidemic prevention measures will inevitably hit businesses in some industries. Therefore, it will formulate a suitable plan, and then apply to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for funding to start the second round of epidemic prevention and anti-epidemic funds.
After the announcement of the first round of measures, the government continued to improve measures after meeting with members from different sectors, including the inclusion of licensed hotels and the arts and culture industry in the first batch of funding industries.
However, after being criticized by the Pakatan Harapan, the government should immediately use fiscal reserves to start the second round of measures, support industries not covered by the first round of measures, and advocate for the establishment of an "unemployment support fund" to provide unemployment assistance benefits with a paycheck. At the same time, under the epidemic situation, daily necessities have become tight. It is suggested that the government can also set up a food bank to fight inflation and issue special anti-epidemic bonds.
The FTU has previously established the "Emergency Unemployment Sympathy Fund", but they also believe that those who have been cut by wages, layoffs have applied for employment, student assistance, etc. The authorities must consider introducing emergency unemployment assistance.
The DAB also hopes that in the second round, the government can focus on assisting those who have been cut or retrenched. In addition, industries that have not benefited in the first round include aviation, beauty, hairdressing, private kindergartens, real estate agencies and foreign businesses. Commission agencies, etc., and consider introducing tax concessions.
Democrat Huang Biyun hopes that the second round of anti-epidemic fund can first support the missing beauty, tutoring agencies, aviation industry and other industries, and suggested that the government should set up a fund to pay, so as to avoid funding only to the boss. Education Commissioner Ye Jianyuan called for the second round of measures to provide substantial assistance to tutorial schools and education centers, such as providing a lump-sum support allowance.
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