Business alliance plans ‘show of force’ in bid to ensure Hong Kong finance chief’s controversial rent deferral measure proceeds
- Alliance of SMEs plans to hold a press conference soon with legislators in a bid to push the government and Executive Council to endorse proposal
- Source close to the government says the rent proposal will be brought before Exco for discussion on Tuesday
Joseph Ho Shiu-chung, chief supervisor and former president of the Cosmetic and Perfumery Association of Hong Kong, which includes beauty salons, said an alliance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) would hold a press conference soon with legislators in a bid to push the government and Executive Council, the city leader’s de facto cabinet, to endorse the proposal.
“We’ve heard the budget proposal may have problems getting passed in Exco due to strong opposition from the city’s developers and landlords … Many lawmakers have shunned away from this issue too,” he said on Friday.
“We are afraid it will end up being shelved so we will come forward very soon in a show of force to openly urge the government to endorse it in Exco … This issue should be undebatable.”
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s scheme aims to ease the plight of firms suffering amid the city’s raging coronavirus outbreak.
