China News Service, Hong Kong, March 17 (Reporter Zeng Ping) After a lapse of more than a year, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam went to the Legislative Council of the Special Administrative Region to attend the "Chief Executive's Question Time" on the 17th and responded in the form of "short questions and short answers" Members of the Legislative Council of the Special Administrative Region questioned.
After Carrie Lam took office, the "Chief Executive's Question Time" was established.
However, in October 2019, she was severely disrupted when she published the Policy Address in the Legislative Council and attended the question-and-answer meeting. She later stated that she would review the schedule of questions.
In November 2020, Carrie Lam proposed to resume the questioning time and promised to respond to the questions raised by members during the questioning session that require follow-up within 30 days.
During the question time of about half an hour today (17th), Carrie Lam responded to questions from 11 legislators.
The issues of concern to members of Congress involve vaccinations against the new crown, resumption of personnel exchanges between the Mainland and Hong Kong, coping with Hong Kong's unemployment rate, and addressing poverty.
Hong Kong has recently expanded the new crown vaccine group that can be scheduled to cover more than 5.5 million people, accounting for nearly 85% of the population of 16 years or older in Hong Kong.
Carrie Lam said that in order for the public to actively vaccinate, apart from trust, it also needs incentives, that is, what is the convenience after vaccination.
The SAR government is considering providing incentives for "customs clearance" and relaxation of local social distancing measures.
Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor mentioned that before the local epidemic is brought under control, the conditions for the gradual resumption of personnel exchanges between the Mainland and Hong Kong are immature, but I believe vaccination will help.
The SAR government has initially discussed with the relevant central authorities under what circumstances, the restrictions can be relaxed after two doses of the vaccine.
"If the epidemic cannot be controlled, people cannot travel between the two places, the tourism industry cannot improve, and international exchanges are almost "frozen". In fact, it will be difficult to revitalize the economy and even more difficult to create jobs." Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said. The key task is to prevent and control the epidemic, and the goal is still to "zero out." The SAR government has done its utmost in every aspect of epidemic prevention and control. At the same time, it also requires the full support and cooperation of the citizens.
Regarding how to solve the poverty problem, Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said that when society is rich, some people will be below the poverty line at any time, because it is measured by "relative".
In recent years, the SAR government has increased the recurrent expenditure on social welfare to the highest level in all policy areas, but there is still a lot of work to be done on housing.
"If we can solve the housing problem so that the grassroots can have a place to live-that is, public housing-plus the economy has a certain momentum, there are job opportunities, the poverty problem can be alleviated. Hope that after the epidemic is brought under control, we There is more room to deal with housing and land issues." Carrie Lam said.
(Finish)