MORE RESOURCES FOR FIGHTING EPIDEMIC

Substantial additional resources will be allocated to fight the epidemic in the new financial year, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said, adding that full support will be provided should more resources be required.

Presenting the 2022-23 Budget at the Legislative Council today, Mr Chan said fighting COVID-19 is the Government’s overriding mission at present and that it will mobilise all available manpower and resources to contain and stabilise the epidemic. 

Additional resources will be allocated in five areas in the new financial year. They include:

(a) an additional funding of about $22 billion for the Food & Health Bureau to strengthen testing work, procure rapid antigen test kits and relevant services, and provide additional support for the Hospital Authority;

(b) an additional funding of $6 billion for the Department of Health to procure more vaccines as booster doses for the general public;

(c) an additional funding amounting to about $7 billion in total for relevant departments to procure anti-epidemic items and services, implement anti-epidemic measures;

(d) a total additional funding of $500 million to be allocated within two years for the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) to enhance environmental hygiene services, particularly strengthening the street cleansing and refuse collection services, stepping up measures on rodent control and improving the hygiene of public markets in response to the epidemic. Meanwhile, the FEHD will strengthen inspections and enforcement actions to raise the community’s awareness about hygiene; and

(e) a further injection of $12 billion into the Anti-epidemic Fund for the construction of various anti-epidemic related facilities.

 
Mr Chan added that $20 billion has been earmarked for other potential anti-epidemic needs.

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