DAB calls on govt to roll out 'down-to-earth' policies

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's biggest political party on Thursday called on the government to enhance communication with the city's political parties to ensure its policies are formulated in a more down-to-earth manner.

The call came as representatives of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) placed 31 proposals for the Chief Executive's upcoming Policy Address scheduled on Oct 14.

During a meeting with CE Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-Ngor, Starry Lee Wai-king, chairwoman of the party, said the SAR government should further improve ties with legislators.

"We encourage the government to take an active role in communicating with political parties during different stages of policy formulation so that we could offer appropriate suggestions in the government's decision-making process," Lee said.

The DAB also expressed its hope that the government would roll out a health code before the Mid-Autumn Festival to facilitate resumption of travels between Hong Kong and Macao SARs and Guangdong province.

Without a health code system, many residents cannot visit their sick parents who live in the mainland, while senior residents residing in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cannot visit Hong Kong hospitals for their follow-up medical consultations, Lee pointed out.

Gary Chan Hak-kan, vice-chairman of the party, asked the government for another cash handout of no less than HK$5,000 in view of the hardship faced by the residents.

The DAB also proposed the formation of a committee comprising experts to review anti-epidemic work during the third wave of the virus.