Democrats Say Govt Relief Needs To Be More Focused

The Democratic Party's district councillors said on Sunday they're petitioning the government to improve the third round of anti-epidemic funding, saying many sectors are still being overlooked.

They said industries such as pet services, internet cafes, vendors at wet markets and smaller eateries couldn't benefit from the latest round of relief funds.

The councillors, who are divided into 11 groups, say they also want the government to distribute another round of HK$10,000 cash handouts to Hongkongers and set up an unemployment subsidy fund.

Critics of the scheme say many people are still falling through the cracks and not getting the help they need.

"That is the basic problem," said the party's chairman, Wu Chi-wai. "The money is not put in the hands of those people who really need it."