Coronavirus: Carrie Lam unveils Hong Kong’s biggest Covid-19 relief package yet, worth HK$138 billion, to ensure 1.5 million workers still get paid
- Hong Kong leader sets out six-month income guarantee to save jobs and firms amid ‘disastrous’ impact of Covid-19
- 30,000 new jobs created, lower train fares, billions more for businesses among other anti-contagion measures revealed as city’s infected total hits 960
Hong Kong’s embattled leader on Wednesday unveiled her government’s biggest coronavirus financial relief package so far, offering a HK$137.5 billion (US$18 billion) lifeline to save ailing businesses and ensure some 1.5 million workers would continue to get paid in the tough months ahead.
The government would also create 30,000 new jobs in the coming two years, spend billions on helping businesses not covered under earlier relief efforts, and lower train fares, among other measures, Lam said.
“In these unprecedented circumstances, the government must have some unprecedented responses – to help businesses to survive, safeguard employment, and minimise the burden on businesses and citizens,” she said.
“After we spend the money, we can earn it back because Hong Kong’s fundamentals are good. I’m confident we can get through this. We need to be united to fight the epidemic.”
