HONG KONG - The Hong Kong government is set to organize a third round of anti-epidemic disbursal to help the city's pandemic-battered industries and individuals, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters before an Executive Council meeting, the Hong Kong leader also said the second phase of Employment Support Scheme – a financial leg-up for employers aimed at retaining employees – will be open to applications starting Aug 31.

In the first phase of the scheme, HK$43.9 billion was disbursed to cover 1.9 million employees, the CE said.

Lam said she will deliver this year's Policy Address, fourth in her term, on Oct 14 and take questions from lawmakers the following day.

Twelve public consultations on the annual government plan will be conducted via online video conferencing starting next week, she added.

The Executive Council ended its summer break a week earlier than it was originally scheduled in order to manage the pandemic-induced crisis.