Hong Kong legislature to vote on temporary funding next week despite work-from-home order amid Covid-19 spike

The HK$215.9 billion proposal would fund necessary government operations until the full budget unveiled in February can be approved

Opposition lawmakers have used procedural techniques to delay a vote, demanding the police force and Carrie Lam’s office be stripped of funding

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While most civil servants will once again be working from home from March 23, lawmakers are expected to convene regular weekly meetings in order to pass a temporary government funding measure. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 10:30pm, 22 Mar 2020Updated: 10:42pm, 22 Mar 2020

Hong Kong’s legislature will meet as scheduled next week to vote on necessary government funding, despite most civil servants being told to work from home amid a spike in Covid-19 cases.

The Legislative Council’s secretariat told the Post on Sunday it would convene its regular Wednesday and Thursday weekly meetings, though staff not directly involved would work from home.

Legco president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, who made the decision, is expected to make the formal announcement on Monday.

Plans to once again have most civil servants work from home starting Monday were announced on Saturday by city leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, though this time no tentative date was given for an end to the arrangement.

Tanya Chan, convenor of the pro-democracy bloc, said opposition lawmakers initially refused to attend last Thursday’s Legco session over public health concerns. Photo: KY Cheng

A government spokesman confirmed on Sunday that all departments would provide only emergency and essential services “until further notice”.

Hong Kong legislature to vote on temporary funding next week despite work-from-home order amid Covid-19 spike

The HK$215.9 billion proposal would fund necessary government operations until the full budget unveiled in February can be approved Opposition lawmakers have used procedural techniques to delay a vote, demanding the police force and Carrie Lam’s office be stripped of funding

The HK$215.9 billion proposal would fund necessary government operations until the full budget unveiled in February can be approved

Opposition lawmakers have used procedural techniques to delay a vote, demanding the police force and Carrie Lam’s office be stripped of funding