HONG KONG: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said that it will release a new round of anti-pandemic funds worth 6.4 billion Hong Kong dollars (about $825.53 million) to help hard-hit industries, including fitness centers and restaurants, CGTN reported on Friday.
Matthew Cheung, chief secretary for administration of the HKSAR government, briefed media that 5.5 billion Hong Kong dollars have been earmarked to help industries hard-hit by COVID-19. The remaining sum will be utilized for emergency use.
Meanwhile, the HKSAR on Thursday reported 96 new COVID-19 cases, including 90 cases of local transmission, according to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP). Among the new infections, 26 have an unknown origin, the CHP said.
Earlier September 16, the Hong Kong government had announced its third round of anti-epidemic fund worth about 24 billion Hong Kong dollars (3.1 billion U.S. dollars) in the latest effort to fight COVID-19 and bail out an economy reeling from the epidemic.
The fund was unveiled at a press conference of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Tuesday afternoon.
Some 13 billion Hong Kong dollars were allocated to purchase vaccines, fend off a possible wave of epidemic in the coming winter, and promote no-touch payments at markets, among others.
–The Daily Mail-CGTN News exchange item
