Briefing by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development on the Chief Executive’s 2018 Policy Address
Economic situation and trade relations with other economies
Mr CHAN Chun-ying noted that the Administration was planning to expand the network of Economic and Trade Offices to Bangkok and Dubai. Stressing the need to support local businesses developing Mainland market, he enquired about the assistance to be provided by the Administration and whether more trade offices would be set up in the Mainland for this purpose. He also suggested that HKTDC should provide more information and assistance to help SMEs do businesses via its webpage on B&R Initiative.
SCED responded that the suggestion would be conveyed to HKTDC for consideration. He added that under the B&R Initiative, the Government and HKTDC would adopt a comprehensive approach to facilitate trade development between Hong Kong and the Mainland, including holding the annual B&R Summit. The Third B&R Summit held in June 2018 had attracted the participation of almost 5 000 people from 55 countries, featuring over 500 one-to-one business-matching meetings with over 220 projects to promote business deals. HKTDC targeted to enhance the provision of the business-matching service through its website as well. To grasp the opportunities brought by the B&R Initiative further, a long-term platform would be developed to enhance collaboration between Mainland enterprises and local professionals.
Briefing by the Secretary for the Environment on the Chief Executive’s 2018 Policy Address
Electricity Charges Relief Scheme and electricity tariff
Mr CHAN Chun-ying expressed support for the Administration’s proposal for providing ECR so as to alleviate the burden of tariff increase on consumers. Nevertheless, noting that any unused credit in the electricity account could be carried forward to cover billed electricity charges under the same account, he considered that electricity account holders who had not ordinarily resided in Hong Kong should not get such a benefit. To safeguard a proper use of public money, he suggested that this kind of dormant electricity accounts should be screened out.
SEN explained that under the proposed arrangement, ECR would be injected into eligible residential accounts over 60 months. The credit could only be used for the purpose of offsetting billed charges for electricity consumed under the same account and would reduce the amount charged in the electricity bills issued by the power companies to their residential customers, up to the expiry date of the new DPs, i.e. 31 December 2023. The Administration would take into account Mr CHAN Chun-ying’s views when considering the detailed arrangement.