Legco approves HK$137bn package to save jobs

Legco approves a package which will see the government pay half of workers' salaries for six months amid the coronavirus pandemic. File Photo: RTHK

The Legislative Council on Saturday passed a HK$137.5 billion package to help businesses and save jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic.



Forty-one lawmakers voted in favour, with 22 in the pro-democracy camp voting against, and two legislators abstaining.



The package includes a plan under which the government will pay 50 percent of workers' salaries for six months, with the monthly subsidy for each worker capped at HK$9,000.



Legco’s Finance Committee scrutinised the package for 18 hours over two days. More than 20 motions put forward by pan-democratic lawmakers, including giving allowances to jobless people, were voted down.



The Democratic Party said there were a lot of "loopholes" in the package and it fails to take care of some industries.



But Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung said the package could help revive the city in the long-run.



“We’ve already planned how to rebuild Hong Kong after the pandemic. We will nurture talent and upgrade workers’ skills. These measures are all aimed at helping our economy recover,” he said.



Many pan-dems took the opportunity during the meeting on Saturday to criticise a statement issued by the liaison office on Friday evening.



The statement said the office is not subject to a restriction set out in the Basic Law that bars central government departments from interfering in Hong Kong affairs.



The pro-government camp accused their rivals of bringing up the issue just to filibuster the meeting.



Chief Executive Carrie Lam, meanwhile, welcomed the passage of the funding application.



"I have no doubt that various departments share the views that these relief measures are timely for many businesses and people, and will implement them at full steam to achieve the effect of safeguarding jobs and supporting enterprises," she said in a statement.