Chief Executive Lee Ka-chao attended the Legislative Council chief executive's question-and-answer meeting at 10:30 am today (19th), which was the third time since taking office.
He announced in his opening remarks that the revocation of the isolation order for confirmed cases will be officially revoked on January 30.
He explained that the vaccination rates of the second and third doses of local vaccines have reached 93% and 84% respectively, and most citizens have reached the protective barrier due to infection.
In addition, since the customs clearance with the mainland, the number of local confirmed cases has dropped from 30,000 to more than 3,000 yesterday (19th). The public's awareness of epidemic prevention and handling methods have improved, and they believe that the government should no longer make a one-size-fits-all approach. "It should be left to citizens' discretion instead."
Looking back on the work of the new government in the past six months, Lee Ka-chao described the solid work of the team and the introduction of innovative and strategic measures, including the establishment of a steering group to promote integration into the overall development of the country, the launch of talent-hunting measures, and the fight against health black spots.
Li Jiachao looks forward to the work in the first half of 2023. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Chen Guoji, is in close contact with the mainland. The "customs clearance" of the two places will be adjusted at any time to achieve comprehensive customs clearance as soon as possible.
He predicts that the number of tourists will increase significantly, and the "Hello, Hong Kong! Hello, Hong Kong" promotional campaign will be launched early next month to convey the message of Hong Kong's return to normal and attract tourists from all over the world to visit Hong Kong.
Legislative Council Chief Executive's Question and Answer Session.
(File photo/Photo by Li Zetong)
[12:05] Shao Jiahui from the wholesale and retail sector noticed the shortage of manpower in various industries and asked Li Jiachao whether he would consider importing foreign workers.
Li Jiachao agrees, saying that sufficient labor can ensure that Hong Kong's competitiveness is recognized by the world. Importing labor is a feasible method. For example, nursing homes will import 3,000 foreign workers. However, he emphasized that the employment opportunities of local workers must be protected.
Drug rush?
Li: I don’t want good things to pass through the customs will leave flaws
[11:57] "C15+" Chen Shaoxiong asked Li Jiachao how to prevent the rebound of the epidemic and ensure the stability of local drug supply.
Li Jiachao said that customs clearance is a good thing. As the chief executive, he does not want a good thing to leave flaws.
He pointed out that the Medical and Health Bureau has communicated with pharmaceutical companies to ensure local drug supply. He admitted that customs clearance may lead to problems such as parallel importers and street congestion, but the customs clearance coordination team has a corresponding plan.
As for whether the epidemic will rebound?
He pointed out that based on the current data, the possibility of a rebound is low, but he emphasized that the virus is ruthless, and the Hong Kong government will definitely increase the safety factor: "We have windproof equipment and will keep things good."
The possibility of a rebound is low, but the virus is ruthless: the safety factor must be increased
[11:48] Zhu Guoqiang from the education sector noticed the situation of cross-border students coming to and from Hong Kong and the Mainland, and asked when the authorities would reopen Chung Ying Street.
Li Jiachao reiterated that customs clearance involves three-party discussions. The Security Bureau has implemented many practical and innovative methods for customs clearance this time. In the future, customs clearance arrangements will be gradually improved according to the situation.
[11:45] Wu Qiubei from the Federation of Trade Unions asked Li Jiachao whether he would consider launching fund subsidies to help citizens resume their jobs and employment, and enhance their sense of gain.
Li Jiachao said that if the government wants to overcome the trough of three years, the government's methods must be diversified and comprehensive, emphasizing that it cannot rely on money alone, but must promote Hong Kong through more foreign visits. I believe this can bring Hong Kong back to normal quickly.
[11:40] Election Committee Su Changrong asked Li Jiachao how to expand Hong Kong's advantages as an offshore RMB center.
Li Jiachao said that Hong Kong has 800 billion yuan and more than 70% of offshore RMB transactions are carried out in Hong Kong, and it will "expand and deepen" its advantages in the future.
He continued to point out that some countries will use RMB to conduct transactions with other countries. How to ensure that their RMB is "living money" rather than "dead money" is to attract them to use the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to increase the value of their RMB. The government is studying the launch of ETF (index stock funds).
The cancellation of nucleic acid must be negotiated with the mainland: the cancellation of listening date is urgent, but there are some things to overcome
[11:33] "A4 Alliance" Liang Wenguang asked Li Jiachao when the quick test could replace the nucleic acid test, or as Li Jiachao said, "not even the quick test"?
Li Jiachao pointed out that the government also negotiates with the mainland on customs clearance practices every day. He emphasized that the abolition of nucleic acid testing is his clear goal, but it involves three aspects of negotiation with the central government and mainland departments: There are things to overcome.” However, he said he was optimistic about the abolition of nucleic acid testing requirements, and reiterated that he would strengthen the distribution of local and mainland nucleic acid testing and other information.
It is now in the initial stage of normalcy: the number of people in Hong Kong after customs clearance is less than 10% of the previous peak
[11:27] Yao Boliang from the tourism industry pointed out that only 600,000 people came to Hong Kong last year, and the hotel occupancy rate was 63%. Compared with before the epidemic, hotel room prices are still a bit lower. What countermeasures will be taken to help the tourism industry recover in the future?
Li Jiachao said that the return to normal is now in the early stage. Even if Hong Kong and the mainland clear customs, the number of people coming to Hong Kong is less than 10% of the previous peak period.
However, he pointed out that subsidies for eco-tourism and green tourism are still effective for the local tourism industry.
He said that the government will increase the intensity of vehicle inspections and lend a place for tourist vehicles to park if the situation permits. He emphasized that the problem cannot be solved overnight, and the system will take time to re-establish.
[11:20] Huang Jinhui, the election committee, asked whether the authorities would transfer intellectual property rights and patent rights to the Bureau of Innovation, Technology and Industry.
Li Jiachao said bluntly: "It is very difficult to have a department that can take care of the design and patent rights." He emphasized that each field is different, and different professional departments need to be "buttoned".
Li Jiachao did not directly self-score
in response to the nucleic acid long queue: only 60% of the test volume was used
[11:16] Election Committee Jie Shang Hailong asked Li Jiachao how much he rated his epidemic prevention policy.
Li Jiachao did not rate himself. He pointed out that yesterday (18th) he noticed that a large number of citizens were waiting in line at the testing center for nucleic acid testing. He emphasized that the supply of testing materials in each center was sufficient, and only 60% of the testing was used yesterday (18th). We believe that the reason for citizens queuing up is due to the lack of information circulation, and will strengthen the distribution of information from the testing center.
He admits that the situation is not ideal, but promises to continue to optimize: "My goal is not to wash the nucleic acid. My goal is to replace the nucleic acid with a quick test. My goal is not to wash the quick test... For the public, I hope There is absolutely no way to do it, let’s go back to normal first.”
The target does not need nucleic acid, and even the quick test does not need to be washed, so the system returns to normal first
[11:08] Lin Zhexuan from the medical and health sector asked when the authorities would introduce a "statutory registration system" for five professions including speech therapists.
Li Jiachao expressed his great concern about this issue, and he will ask organizations with registration pilot schemes to submit registration standards for further consideration.
Li Jiachao, who has been in the red for three consecutive years: Opportunities outweigh challenges
[11:04] He Jingkang of the New Democratic Party mentioned that the Hong Kong government has been in deficit for three consecutive years. What measures will be taken to ensure the government's financial stability in the future.
Li Jiachao said that the Financial Secretary is consulting on the "Budget" and believes that the above questions will be answered.
He pointed out that he is optimistic and positive about Hong Kong's economic development. Although there are negative global challenges, Hong Kong has been affected by the country's positive development.
He emphasized that he is confident that the opportunities in Hong Kong outweigh the challenges. After the relaxation of epidemic prevention restrictions and customs clearance with the Mainland, he can deeply feel the concept of all sectors of society's dedication to Hong Kong's development.
As for how to increase the income of the Hong Kong government in the future, Li Jiachao said that he hopes to continue to expand and deepen the original income field, such as expanding the capacity of the eight centers to promote high-quality development, adding technology to different industries to improve efficiency and increase revenue. .
[10:55] DAB Chen Yongguang asked whether the government will introduce policies to promote the collaboration between Chinese and Western medicine?
Li Jiachao said that the "Policy Address" has expressed the importance of Chinese medicine, and has set up a Chinese medicine commissioner to review the development direction of Chinese medicine.
He said that first of all, it is necessary to increase the scope of diseases that can be treated by traditional Chinese medicine and expand the scope of Chinese medicine services.
In the future, the government will strengthen training in Chinese medicine, increase public awareness of Chinese medicine, and research on Chinese medicine.
He emphasized that he will work with the Chinese medicine community to study the blueprint for the development of Chinese medicine.
However, he pointed out that the current medical structure is still dominated by western medicine, but in terms of body conditioning and management, Chinese medicine can make more contributions.
1.30 Withdrawal of the isolation order, the mixed immune barrier is already very strong
[10:55] Li Jiachao announced that the quarantine order will be revoked from January 30. There are several main considerations, including the vaccination rates of the second and third doses of the vaccine reaching 93% and 84% respectively. Since the fifth wave, many Citizens have developed immunity due to infection, and the effective vaccination rate equivalent to the third dose of vaccination has reached 95%. The mixed immune barrier of society is already very strong. Even if the citizens who have completed the vaccination are infected, most of them are mild.
The virus and the epidemic are constantly evolving, Hong Kong's medical system has improved prevention and control capabilities, and effective antiviral drugs: "The risk of the virus to local public health has changed significantly and has been significantly reduced."
It is necessary to move towards a new stage and a new model as one of the upper respiratory disease management
Li Jiachao pointed out that since the customs clearance between Hong Kong and the mainland for more than ten days, the risk of the epidemic has not increased. Nearly 90%.
Moreover, the society and citizens’ awareness and ability to deal with the virus have been greatly improved: “The government’s management of the new crown virus needs to move towards a new stage and a new model. For the sake of "citizens make their own decisions and be responsible for themselves", gradually establish a new normal system, and treat COVID-19 as one of the management of upper respiratory diseases." He said that this important step is based on science and risk.
(The cancellation of the isolation order for confirmed cases) is a necessary stage for foreign countries to return to normal, and it is also a necessary stage for Hong Kong to return to normal, and Hong Kong has reached this stage.
Li Jiachao
It is expected that the number of tourists will increase significantly in the first half of the year. International promotion will be launched in February.
[10:45] Chief Executive Lee Ka-chao attended the question-and-answer meeting of the Legislative Council today (19th).
Li Jiachao first reviewed the work of the new government after taking office. He pointed out that the team has a common philosophy and proposed different new measures in the "Policy Address", including the establishment of a "integration into the overall situation of national development team". Developing all the way; using the new measures to attract talents, there are more than 5,000 applications for the "High-end Talent Program", 70% of which have been approved; a mutual fund of 30 billion yuan will be established to jointly invest in companies with development potential in the future; launch "Innovative Technology Development Blueprint" and other development blueprints.
In terms of administration, the government proposed 25 drafts to the Legislative Council, and 20 of them were passed.
Looking forward to the work in 2023, he pointed out that with the affirmation of the central government, Hong Kong and the mainland resumed customs clearance on January 8, and the number of high-speed rail ticket sales has gradually increased. Since the customs clearance, about 20,000 people pass through various ports to go north every day.
In the future, his team will visit Guangdong Province and attend the Boao Forum for Asia in March. It is expected that Hong Kong's economy will improve.
He promises to promote Hong Kong with the team, the business community and the professional community through organizing events such as "Hello, Hong Kong! Hello Hong Kong!", "Hong Kong Flower Show", "Museum Summit Forum", and the first pop culture event, etc. , to attract domestic and foreign tourists back to Hong Kong.
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