Wait For The Budget For More Relief Measures: CE

Chief Executive Carrie Lam says that if the government decides to roll out more relief measures for coronavirus-hit sectors and individuals, they will be announced in next month’s budget.

At a media session on Tuesday, Lam was asked to respond to complaints from businesses that the HK$3.57 billion funding earmarked to help sectors affected by the latest round of Covid-19 restrictions is far too little.

“The support measures can never completely satisfy demands made by the sectors, and they would never be able to make up for what businesses think they have lost. This is exactly why everyone has to take part in anti-epidemic efforts,” Lam said.

She said she believes Financial Secretary Paul Chan will consult her over his budget proposals, which is due in a little more than a month.

The CE added that officials will try to hand out at least part of the money before the Lunar New Year to those who’ve already applied for the latest round of relief funding.

Lam also said she’s concerned that two types of Covid-19 variants may be spreading in the community, after a pet shop worker contracted the Delta variant from an unknown source and authorities continued to discover local Omicron cases.

Lam said the pet shop has many outlets across the city, so the Food and Health Bureau and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department have conducted large-scale investigations and they will announce the details shortly.