HONG KONG - The Legislative Council on Wednesday passed the government’s HK$215.8 billion provisional funding request to cover public service expenditures from the start of the fiscal year on April 1 before the 2020/21 budget is ratified.
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Part of the provisional funding, passed with a vote of 39 to 24, will pay for the anti-coronavirus epidemic expenses by various government departments
Part of the provisional funding, passed with a vote of 39 to 24, will pay for the anti-coronavirus epidemic expenses by various government departments.
The funding request, put forward by the government before the passage of the Appropriation Bill at LegCo, is a long-established and essential procedure for the government to carry on its services, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury James Henry Lau said at the council meeting.
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If the proposal is not passed before the end of March, the government might be unable to maintain its normal operation and provide public services from April, Lau said, adding the anti-epidemic measures could also be affected.
