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A 19/20-29(CM-25)

Legislative Council

Agenda

Wednesday 3 June 2020 at 11:00 am

I.
Laying of Papers on the Table of the Council

20 items of subsidiary legislation and 1 other paper to be laid on the Table of the Council set out in Appendix 1

II.
Questions

Members to ask 20 questions (5 for oral replies and 15 for written replies)
Questions for oral replies to be asked by
Public officers to reply
1.
Secretary for Transport and Housing
2.
Secretary for Development
3.
Dr Hon CHENG Chung-tai
Secretary for Home Affairs
4.
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury
5.
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
Contents of 20 questions, Members to ask such questions and public officers to reply set out in Appendix 2

III.
Government Bills

Consideration by committee of the whole Council and Third Reading
(Standing over from the meeting of 27 May 2020)
1.
:
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs
4 amendment movers
:
Hon Alvin YEUNG, Hon CHAN Chi-chuen, Hon Kenneth LEUNG and Hon WU Chi-wai
(Amendments set out in LC Paper Nos. CB(3) 456/19-20 and CB(3) 482/19-20 issued on 25 and 28 May 2020)
(Debate and voting arrangements set out in LC Paper Nos. CB(3) 482/19-20 and CB(3) 483/19-20 issued on 28 and 29 May 2020)
Second Reading (debate to resume), consideration by committee of the whole Council and Third Reading
(Standing over from the meeting of 27 May 2020)
2.
:
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
Amendment mover
:
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
(Amendment set out in LC Paper No. CB(3) 437/19-20 issued on 21 May 2020)
(Debate and voting arrangements set out in LC Paper No. CB(3) 493/19-20 issued on 2 June 2020)
3.
:
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury
4.
:
Secretary for Transport and Housing
Amendment mover
:
Secretary for Transport and Housing
(Amendments set out in LC Paper No. CB(3) 451/19-20 issued on 22 May 2020)
Amendment mover
:
Secretary for Security
(Amendments set out in LC Paper No. CB(3) 443/19-20 issued on 21 May 2020)
7.
:
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs
Amendment mover
:
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs
(Amendments set out in LC Paper No. CB(3) 438/19-20 issued on 21 May 2020)
8.
:
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury
Amendment mover
:
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury
(Amendments set out in LC Paper No. CB(3) 439/19-20 issued on 21 May 2020)
9.
:
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
10.
:
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury

IV.
Government Motion

Proposed resolution under the Fatal Accidents Ordinance
Mover
:
Secretary for Justice
Wording of the motion
:

V.
Member's Bill

Second Reading (debate to resume), consideration by committee of the whole Council and Third Reading
(Standing over from the meeting of 27 May 2020)
(No public officer will attend this item)

VI.
Members' Motions

1st debate (covering the following motion)
(Standing over from the meeting of 20 May 2020)
1.
Motion under Rule 49B(1A) of the Rules of Procedure to censure Hon Claudia MO
Mover
:
Hon YUNG Hoi-yan
Wording of the motion
:
(This motion jointly signed by Hon Mrs Regina IP, Hon Alice MAK and Hon Vincent CHENG)
2nd debate (covering the following motion)
(Standing over from the meeting of 20 May 2020)
2.
Motion under Rule 49B(1A) of the Rules of Procedure to censure Hon Dennis KWOK
Mover
:
Hon Alice MAK
Wording of the motion
:
(This motion jointly signed by Hon Mrs Regina IP, Dr Hon Priscilla LEUNG and Hon Holden CHOW)
3rd debate
(covering the following 2 motions on the incident of assaults which occurred in Yuen Long Station of West Rail Line of the MTR Corporation Limited on 21 July 2019 ("the 721 incident"))
(Standing over from the meeting of 23 October 2019)
3.
Motion under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance to appoint a select committee to conduct an inquiry
Mover
:
Hon LAM Cheuk-ting
Wording of the motion
:
4.
Motion under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance to appoint a select committee to conduct an inquiry
(This motion concerns both the 721 incident and the 831 incident)
Mover
:
Hon Claudia MO
Wording of the motion
:
Public officers to attend this debate
:
Secretary for Security
Under Secretary for Security
(Debate and voting arrangements set out in LC Paper Nos. CB(3) 195/19-20 and CB(3) 218/19-20 issued on 9 and 17 December 2019)
4th debate
(covering the following 3 motions on the incident of assaults which occurred in Prince Edward Station of the MTR Corporation Limited on 31 August 2019 ("the 831 incident") as well as the part concerning the 831 incident in Hon Claudia MO's motion in item 4)
(Standing over from the meeting of 23 October 2019)
5.
Motion under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law to summon the Commissioner of Police, Director of Fire Services, Chairman of the MTR Corporation Limited ("MTRCL") and Operations Director of MTRCL to produce papers and testify
Mover
:
Hon Alvin YEUNG
Wording of the motion
:
6.
Motion under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law to summon the Commissioner of Police, Director of Fire Services, Assistant Director (Ambulance) of the Fire Services Department, Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Hospital Chief Executive of Kwong Wah Hospital and Hospital Chief Executive of Princess Margaret Hospital to produce papers and testify
Mover
:
Dr Hon KWOK Ka-ki
Wording of the motion
:
7.
Motion under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance to appoint a select committee to conduct an inquiry
Mover
:
Hon KWONG Chun-yu
Wording of the motion
:
Public officers to attend this debate
:
Secretary for Security
Secretary for Transport and Housing
Secretary for Food and Health
Under Secretary for Security
Under Secretary for Food and Health
Under Secretary for Transport and Housing
(Debate and voting arrangements set out in LC Paper Nos. CB(3) 195/19-20 and CB(3) 218/19-20 issued on 9 and 17 December 2019)
5th debate
(covering the following 7 motions on the Police's handling of protesters and persons performing duties in the protests during the "anti-extradition to China" movement)
(Items 8 to 12 standing over from the meeting of 23 October 2019)
8 and 9.
Motions under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance to appoint select committees to conduct inquiries
Mover
:
Hon Tanya CHAN
Wording of the motions
:
10 and 11.
Motions under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance to appoint select committees to conduct inquiries
Mover
:
Dr Hon KWOK Ka-ki
Wording of the motions
:
12.
Motion under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law to summon the Secretary for Security and Secretary for Labour and Welfare to produce papers and testify
Mover
:
Dr Hon Fernando CHEUNG
Wording of the motion
:
(Item 13 standing over from the meeting of 13 November 2019)
13.
Motion under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law to summon the Secretary for Security and Commissioner of Police to produce papers and testify
Mover
:
Dr Hon KWOK Ka-ki
Wording of the motion
:
(Item 14 standing over from the meeting of 11 December 2019)
14.
Motion under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law to summon the Commissioner of Police to produce papers and testify
Mover
:
Hon Kenneth LEUNG
Wording of the motion
:
Public officers to attend this debate
:
Secretary for Labour and Welfare
Secretary for Security
Under Secretary for Security
(Debate and voting arrangements set out in LC Paper Nos. CB(3) 195/19-20 and CB(3) 218/19-20 issued on 9 and 17 December 2019)
6th debate
(covering the following 2 motions on the causes and consequences of the social conflicts or disturbances arising from the amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance (Cap. 503) and related matters)
(Item 15 standing over from the meeting of 13 November 2019)
15.
Motion under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance to appoint a select committee to conduct an inquiry
Mover
:
Hon CHUNG Kwok-pan
Wording of the motion
:
(Item 16 standing over from the meeting of 27 November 2019)
16.
Motion under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance to appoint a select committee to conduct an inquiry
Mover
:
Dr Hon Priscilla LEUNG
Wording of the motion
:
Amendment mover
:
Hon James TO
(Amendment set out in LC Paper No. CB(3) 155/19-20 issued on 22 November 2019)
Public officers to attend this debate
:
Chief Secretary for Administration
Secretary for Security
Under Secretary for Security
(Debate and voting arrangements set out in LC Paper Nos. CB(3) 195/19-20 and CB(3) 218/19-20 issued on 9 and 17 December 2019)
Debate and voting arrangements for the following 4 motions to be notified
(Items 17 and 18 standing over from the meeting of 15 January 2020)
17.
Motion under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law to summon the Secretary for Security and Commissioner of Police to produce papers and testify
Mover
:
Hon Charles Peter MOK
Wording of the motion
:
Public officers to attend
:
Secretary for Security
Under Secretary for Security
18.
Motion under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law to summon the Secretary for Security and Secretary for Transport and Housing to produce papers and testify
Mover
:
Hon Jeremy TAM
Wording of the motion
:
Public officers to attend
:
Secretary for Security
Secretary for Transport and Housing
Under Secretary for Security
Under Secretary for Transport and Housing
(Items 19 and 20 standing over from the meeting of 20 May 2020)
19.
Motion under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law to summon the Chief Secretary for Administration and Secretary for Food and Health to produce papers and testify
Mover
:
Dr Hon KWOK Ka-ki
Wording of the motion
:
Public officers to attend
:
Secretary for Food and Health
Under Secretary for Food and Health
20.
Motion under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law to summon the Chief Secretary for Administration to produce papers and testify
Mover
:
Dr Hon KWOK Ka-ki
Wording of the motion
:
Public officer to attend
:
Secretary for Food and Health
Under Secretary for Food and Health
7th debate (covering the following motion)
(Standing over from the meeting of 12 June 2019)
21.
Motion on "No confidence in the Fifth Term Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region"
Mover
:
Hon Dennis KWOK
Wording of the motion
:
Amendment mover
:
Hon Claudia MO
(Amendment set out in LC Paper No. CB(3) 667/18-19 issued on 5 June 2019)
Public officer to attend
:
Chief Secretary for Administration
8th debate (covering the following motion)
22.
Motion on "Strengthening the combat against parallel trading activities, and tightening the arrangements for Mainland residents visiting Hong Kong"
Mover
:
Hon LAM Cheuk-ting
Wording of the motion
:
Public officers to attend
:
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development



Clerk to the Legislative Council




Appendix 1

Council meeting of 3 June 2020

Laying of Papers on the Table of the Council

Subsidiary legislation
Legal Notice No.
1.
98 of 2020
2.
99 of 2020
3.
100 of 2020
4.
101 of 2020
5.
102 of 2020
6.
103 of 2020
7.
104 of 2020
8.
105 of 2020
9.
106 of 2020
10.
107 of 2020
11.
108 of 2020
12.
109 of 2020
13.
110 of 2020
14.
111 of 2020
15.
112 of 2020
16.
113 of 2020
17.
116 of 2020
18.
117 of 2020
19.
118 of 2020
20.
119 of 2020
Other paper
21.




Appendix 2

20 questions to be asked at the Council meeting of 3 June 2020

Subject matters
Public officers to reply
Questions for oral replies
1
Hon Michael TIEN
Secretary for Transport and Housing
2
Hon Wilson OR
Secretary for Development
3
Dr Hon CHENG Chung-tai
Secretary for Home Affairs
4
Hon Christopher CHEUNG
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury
5
Hon Alvin YEUNG
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
Questions for written replies
6
Hon Andrew WAN
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
7
Hon Jeffrey LAM
Secretary for Transport and Housing
8
Hon Alice MAK
Secretary for Transport and Housing
9
Hon Vincent CHENG
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
10
Hon Wilson OR
Secretary for Transport and Housing
11
Hon Charles Peter MOK
Secretary for Innovation and Technology
12
Dr Hon KWOK Ka-ki
Secretary for Food and Health
13
Hon Elizabeth QUAT
Secretary for Food and Health
14
Hon Frankie YICK
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury
15
Hon Charles Peter MOK
Secretary for Innovation and Technology
16
Hon Elizabeth QUAT
Secretary for Labour and Welfare
17
Dr Hon Helena WONG
Secretary for Transport and Housing
18
Hon CHAN Hak-kan
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
19
Hon Andrew WAN
Secretary for Transport and Housing
20
Hon Tony TSE
Secretary for the Civil Service
Notes:
Five (instead of six) oral questions and 15 (instead of 16) written questions are scheduled for this meeting as:
(a)
the President has ruled an oral question, for which Hon WU Chi-wai had given notice, to be out of order and cannot be asked; and
(b)
Hon HO Kai-ming, who had earlier given notice for asking a written question, has resigned from the office as a Legislative Council Member with effect from 1 June 2020.




Question 1
(For oral reply)

(Translation)

Hung Hom Station Extension works under
the Shatin to Central Link project

Hon Michael TIEN to ask:
In May 2018, works quality problems were uncovered in respect of the construction works at and near the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link project. The independent commission of inquiry set up by the Government for this matter submitted its final report in March this year. The report has pointed out that the MTR Corporation Limited ("MTRCL") and its contractor, Leighton Contractors (Asia) Limited ("Leighton"), were responsible for the serious deficiencies in their management and supervision systems, and the Government as the overseer, had to bear a measure of responsibility. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
given that project mismanagement on the part of MTRCL has led to a number of works quality problems and a delay of commissioning of the rail line, whether the Government will consider not paying MTRCL any amount of the management fees for the entire works project; if it will still pay such fees, whether the reason therefor is that the Government is still satisfied with MTRCL's performance;
(2)
given that Leighton, as the contractor of the works project, has failed to fully comply with the procedures and requirements which aim to ensure works quality and structural safety, thereby compromising its integrity, and yet it is learnt that the Government has so far not completely disqualified Leighton and its related companies from tendering for public works projects, whether the Government will consider imposing heavier punishments on Leighton, including blacklisting Leighton and its related companies to permanently bar them from tendering for all public works and railway projects; if not, of the reasons for that; and
(3)
given that as the overseer of the project, the Government has failed to play the role of an active participant, whether the Government will consider holding accountable the main government officials who were then involved (e.g. making a public condemnation); if so, of the specific actions to be taken; if not, the justifications for that?




Question 2
(For oral reply)

(Translation)

Development plans for three squatter areas

Hon Wilson OR to ask:
The Chief Executive put forward in the 2019 Policy Address the resumption of the private land in three squatter areas in Kowloon East (i.e. Cha Kwo Ling Village, Ngau Chi Wan Village and Chuk Yuen United Village) to make way for the development of seven hectares of urban sites into a new community mainly comprising high-density public housing. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
of the latest progress of the aforesaid development projects; the number of housing flats that may be provided, the population that may be accommodated and the average living space per person upon completion of the projects;
(2)
given that the population in Kowloon East is aging and welfare facilities in that area have all along been in short supply, of the floor area to be reserved by the Government in such development projects for constructing welfare facilities; and
(3)
given that Cha Kwo Ling Village is the only remaining ancient village in Hong Kong, which has a history of 400 years with rich cultural relics and heritage (including not only the Tin Hau Temple of Cha Kwo Ling, which has been classified as a Grade 3 historic building, but also activities in celebration of Lu Pan Patron's Day and Tin Hau Festival which are held annually), whether the Government has drawn up any conservation framework and blueprint for the three villages?




Question 3
(For oral reply)

(Translation)

Statutory bodies

Dr Hon CHENG Chung-tai to ask:
Recently, the work and decisions of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, the Communications Authority and the Independent Police Complaints Council have given rise to controversies across various sectors of society. Some members of the public have queried that such statutory bodies are only subordinates of the Executive Authorities which are not subject to public monitoring, and that they have not placed the overall interests of Hong Kong above all else in the course of their actions. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
whether it will enact legislation to transfer the functions of certain statutory bodies to those bodies with their members elected by members of the public (e.g. District Councils), so that members of the public will have more opportunities to participate in public affairs;
(2)
as there are comments that given the resources for operating the statutory bodies being mainly provided by the Government, coupled with the fact that a majority of their members are appointed by the Government, the independency of these statutory bodies is prone to be questioned, how the Government will improve this situation; and
(3)
of the ways to avoid controversies being caused in society again by statutory bodies when they discharge their statutory functions?




Question 4
(For oral reply)

(Translation)

Stability and development of the financial market

Hon Christopher CHEUNG to ask:
With the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic having dealt a heavy blow to the global economy and showing no signs of abating, coupled with the continued wrestling between China and the United States ("US") in various aspects, financial markets around the world have been very volatile recently. However, unlike other stock markets, Hong Kong's stock market does not have a circuit breaker mechanism in place. In respect of ensuring the stability and continued development of the local financial market, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
whether it will review the volatility control mechanism in the local stock market and if there is any need to introduce a circuit breaker mechanism, so as to ensure that Hong Kong's stock market can maintain a smooth and orderly operation amid the turmoil in the international financial markets; if so, of the details of such review (including consultation with stakeholders);
(2)
whether it has reviewed if the various exchange participants have now taken sufficient measures in response to the epidemic, e.g. how the authorities ensure the normal operation of the market in the event that some brokerage firms have to close their offices temporarily due to the epidemic and as a result are unable to settle the transactions on that day; and
(3)
whether it has examined the challenges and opportunities brought to the Hong Kong financial market by the wrestling between China and US which has extended to the areas of finance and technology, how the financial services industry of Hong Kong may play a greater role in the development of the financial services in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as if the proportion of investment in local stocks in the investment portfolio of the Exchange Fund may be increased?




Question 5
(For oral reply)

(Translation)

Office accommodation for the Radio Television Hong Kong

Hon Alvin YEUNG to ask:
It has been reported that the Education Bureau ("EDB") last month requested the Radio Television Hong Kong ("RTHK") to vacate and hand back the Education Television Centre at Broadcast Drive by September this year. Besides, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation has planned to resume the premises located in the InnoCentre at Tat Chee Avenue which is currently used as the office of the General Programmes Section of RTHK's Television Division. In January 2014, the Public Works Subcommittee of this Council voted down the proposal to upgrade to Category A the project to construct the New Broadcasting House of Radio Television Hong Kong ("BH"). In November 2017, the Government indicated that the project had been downgraded from Category B to Category C, but such an adjustment would not affect RTHK from continuing to explore feasible options, including the exploration with the relevant Government departments the feasibility of constructing a joint-user building, and RTHK would take forward the BH project in accordance with the established mechanism. Regarding the office accommodation for RTHK, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
of the progress of the BH project; whether it will expeditiously upgrade the project to Category B and, at the same time, accord a higher priority to the project, as well as provide RTHK with additional funding to meet the expenditure on renting new offices before the completion and commissioning of the BH;
(2)
as RTHK has over the years been the sole user department of the Education Television Centre, whether EDB will defer the resumption of the facility, or grant the site concerned to RTHK by way of temporary government land allocation until the commissioning of the BH; and
(3)
as the Government has repeatedly stated in recent months that RTHK must fully abide by the Charter of Radio Television Hong Kong and duly fulfil the obligations as a public service broadcaster, whether it has assessed if the decision to resume the above premises will hinder the fulfilment of such obligations by RTHK, including meeting the target number of hours of programme output for the current financial year?




Question 6
(For written reply)

(Translation)

Protection of the consumers' rights and interests of online shoppers

Hon Andrew WAN to ask:
Regarding the protection of the consumers' rights and interests of people who purchase goods and services online ("online shopping"), will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
of the respective numbers of complaints about online shopping received by the Consumer Council and the Customs and Excise Department ("C&ED") in each of the past five years and between January and May this year, with a breakdown by spending category (i.e. goods and services) and traders' place of registration;
(2)
of the number of pursuable cases among the complaints mentioned in (1), with a breakdown by spending category and the action taken by the authorities (e.g. conciliation and institution of prosecutions);
(3)
as the Government indicated in May 2018 that the Police, when handling online fraud cases involving places outside Hong Kong, would seek cooperation with the relevant law enforcement agencies outside Hong Kong as necessary, and C&ED might demand those websites found to have committed contraventions to remove the relevant contents or hyperlinks, and conduct joint operations with the law enforcement agencies outside Hong Kong, whether the Government has assessed the effectiveness of such actions, and of the new measures in place to combat online fraud cases;
(4)
whether it will, by making reference to the practices adopted by economies such as Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the South Korea, enact legislation to regulate online shopping by stipulating that traders must prepare contracts and provide a cooling-off period for transactions, and provide consumers with accurate descriptions of services and goods as well as contact methods;
(5)
whether it will study the enactment of legislation to introduce connected lender liability, i.e. based on the principle that in case of a breach of contract of a trader, the party who cooperates with the trader by offering lending is required to bear the legal liability jointly, thus allowing all consumers who have paid by credit cards to, in the event of closing down of business of a trader, lodge claims to the card issuers directly without the need of resorting to the winding-up process which has a little chance of success; and
(6)
as the Government indicated in April 2019 that a cross-sector Working Group established by the Department of Justice carried on studying and considering the Report on Class Actions published by the Law Reform Commission in May 2012, and that the content of the Working Group's study at this stage mainly focused on considering the Report's recommendation on introducing class action in Hong Kong starting with consumer cases, of the progress of the relevant study?




Question 7
(For written reply)

(Translation)

Demand-side management taxation measures for the property market

Hon Jeffrey LAM to ask:
Since 5 November 2016, the Government raised the ad valorem stamp duty ("AVD") chargeable to residential property transactions across the board to a flat rate of 15% (i.e. Part 1 of Scale 1 rate). Nevertheless, Hong Kong permanent resident ("HKPR") buyers who do not own any other residential property in Hong Kong at the time of acquisition of the residential property are allowed to pay AVD at the original rates (i.e. Scale 2 rates), which are lower. Besides, a HKPR who replaces his/her only residential property in Hong Kong by first acquiring a new property before disposing of the original property may apply for a refund of the difference between the AVD amount computed at 15% and that at the original rate, provided that the original property is sold within 12 months after acquiring the new property. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
given that in the last financial year (up to 29 February this year), among the residential property transactions which were subjected to AVD at Scale 2 rates, 77% were transactions for properties of prices ranging from $4 million to $20 million, whether the Government has assessed if the buyers of such properties (quite a number of whom being first-time home buyers) found it burdensome to pay an AVD of $150,000 to $500,000 after making down payments; if it has assessed and the outcome is in the affirmative, whether it will consider lowering the rates;
(2)
of the number of those applications for a partial refund of the AVD payment, in each of the past two financial years, which were approved or still being processed, the average amount of refund involved in such applications, and the average number of days between the execution of the instruments for a transaction on the property purchase to the submission of the AVD refund application by the applicant (with a tabulated breakdown by the group to which the property price/value belonged);
(3)
whether it has reviewed if the arrangement whereby persons replacing their properties have to pay an AVD at a rate of 15% first and then claim partial refund of AVD after disposing of their original properties has added financial burden to such persons and impeded the turnover of residential properties; and
(4)
whether it will (i) review the effectiveness of the various demand side management taxation measures for the property market and their impacts on the property market and home-buyers, as well as (ii) consider adjusting such measures or establishing an adjustment mechanism?




Question 8
(For written reply)

(Translation)

Households affected by the
housing developments in Wang Chau

Hon Alice MAK to ask:
To take forward the Wang Chau public housing development (Phase 1) in Yuen Long, the Government needs to carry out land resumption work at three villages (i.e. Wing Ning Tsuen, Fung Chi Tsuen and Yeung Uk San Tsuen). Some affected villagers have sought my assistance, saying that while they have been informed by the Government that land resumption will be carried out in mid-July this year, the relevant compensation, rehousing and rehabilitation arrangements have not yet been properly handled. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
of the number of households in the aforesaid three villages who have not been rehoused and the reasons for that; whether it will expedite the relevant work, including properly rehousing residents who have not been allocated public rental housing units;
(2)
of the number of villagers in the three villages who have applied for rehabilitation and, among them, the number of those whose eligibility has been verified; whether it will expedite the relevant work; and
(3)
whether the Government can undertake that it will complete the compensation and rehousing work for all registered households in the three villages before carrying out the land resumption work in mid-July; how the Government will deal with those households who have not moved out when it carries out the land resumption work?




Question 9
(For written reply)

(Translation)

Support for the hotel and guesthouse industry

Hon Vincent CHENG to ask:
Owing to the dual impacts of social incidents and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 epidemic, the number of visitor arrivals to Hong Kong has been falling continuously since the middle of last year. The number of overnight visitor arrivals dropped to 37 000 in March this year, registering a 98.5% drop over that in the same period last year. Quite a number of hotels and guesthouses have reportedly suffered long spells of zero patronage from visitors in the past few months. To date, some 300 guesthouses have closed down and quite a number of guesthouses are on the verge of doing so. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
of the respective numbers of (i) hotels and (ii) guesthouses having suspended operation or closed down, and the respective resultant numbers of employees dismissed or made redundant, in each month since February this year;
(2)
whether, apart from providing licensed guesthouses with a one-off subsidy under the Licensed Guesthouses Subsidy Scheme, the Government will consider providing additional support (including cash subsidies) for the guesthouse industry; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(3)
of the measures that the authorities plan to roll out after the epidemic has died down, so as to revitalize the tourism industry and save the hotel and guesthouse industry;
(4)
as some members of the hotel and guesthouse industry have pointed out that the measures referred to in (3) may have to be put in place for a considerable period of time before delivering results, and that the number of Mainland visitor arrivals to Hong Kong may not recover to its previous levels within a short period of time, whether the Government will assess the changes in the visitor sources of the tourism industry of Hong Kong in the latter half of this year and next year and the impacts thereof (particularly those on the hotel and guesthouse industry); and
(5)
as some members of the guesthouse industry have pointed out that (i) the subsidies available for guesthouses under the relief measures are less than those for hotels, (ii) due to constraints in the layouts of and the facilities in their rooms, guesthouses have difficulties in recruiting local clients renting on a monthly basis as hotels do, and (iii) there is little room for transformation for the guesthouses as the licensing requirements preclude them from making any changes to the layouts, whether the Government will gain an understanding from members of the industry of their difficulties and study ways to remove the red tape with a view to facilitating the business transformation of members of the industry and assisting them in sustaining their operation; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?




Question 10
(For written reply)

(Translation)

Long Term Housing Strategy

Hon Wilson OR to ask:
On 16 December 2014, the Government promulgated the Long Term Housing Strategy ("LTHS"). Pursuant to LTHS, the Government updates the long term housing demand projection annually and sets a rolling 10-year housing supply target. Some comments have pointed out that the methodology set out in LTHS for projection of housing demand has failed to reflect genuine housing needs, and LTHS has not incorporated all of the new policies being implemented by the current-term Government. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
whether it will revise the methodology in LTHS for projection of housing demand by, among other things, taking into account the following factors: the sum of all of the annual shortfalls between targeted and actual housing supply since the introduction of LTHS, as well as the fact that the demand for household splitting has been suppressed by the low housing supply;
(2)
whether it will incorporate into the vision of LTHS the following housing policy put forward by the current-term Government: to focus on home-ownership and strive to build a housing ladder to rekindle the hope of families in different income brackets to become home-owners; of the latest progress of the implementation of this policy by the Government;
(3)
whether it will incorporate into LTHS the supply target for transitional housing units, so as to facilitate progress monitoring; if not, of the reasons for that; and
(4)
whether it will reinstate the Long Term Housing Strategy Steering Committee to be tasked with the responsibilities of conducting a comprehensive review on the long term housing strategy, and giving advice on the implementation of the suggestions made in (1) to (3) above; if so, of the timetable; if not, the reasons for that?




Question 11
(For written reply)

(Translation)

Application of technology in efforts to combat pandemic

Hon Charles Peter MOK to ask:
To tackle the Coronavirus Disease 2019 ("COVID-19") pandemic, the Government has been issuing quarantine orders to persons arriving in Hong Kong, requiring them to undergo a 14 day compulsory quarantine at a designated place (home or other accommodation), and distributing to them an electronic/monitoring wristband that is paired with the "StayHomeSafe" mobile application, in order to ascertain that they are staying at the designated places. Moreover, the Innovation and Technology Commission launched a special call for trial projects under the Public Sector Trial Scheme to support product development and application of technology for the prevention and control of the epidemic. Regarding the application of technology in efforts to combat COVID-19 pandemic, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
of the respective numbers of arrivals to whom (i) Bluetooth Low Energy ("BLE") positioning electronic wristbands, (ii) reusable BLE positioning electronic wristbands, and (iii) monitoring wristbands were distributed so far; the number of Hong Kong residents among them;
(2)
of the types of information collected (including personal data) via the electronic wristbands and the "StayHomeSafe" mobile application and its retention period;
(3)
as the Government has stated that the reusable electronic wristbands, upon recovery, may be used by government departments in other services, of a breakdown of the number of recycled wristbands by (i) government department and (ii) use; and
(4)
of the number of applications received so far under the special call for trial projects, with a breakdown by (i) type of applicants (e.g. research and development ("R&D") centres, universities, other designated public research institutions, all technology companies conducting R&D activities in Hong Kong) and (ii) progress of processing such applications ((a) being processed, (b) approved, and (c) rejected); the total amount of grants approved so far?




Question 12
(For written reply)

(Translation)

Provision of sign language interpretation
services by the Hospital Authority

Dr Hon KWOK Ka-ki to ask:
It has been reported that earlier on, a deaf-mute patient suffering from depression and with suicidal tendency was referred to the Kwai Chung Hospital for hospitalization. As the Hospital had not arranged sign language interpretation services for that patient, the healthcare personnel could not communicate with him. After the patient's hospitalization for two weeks, the Hospital arranged for his discharge on the grounds that its staff members had not been able to communicate with him and that he had wished to be discharged from hospital. The patient jumped to his death from a building on the next day after discharge from hospital. Regarding the provision of sign language interpretation services by the Hospital Authority ("HA") for the deaf-mute, will the Government inform this Council if it knows:
(1)
the details of HA's arrangements for the provision of sign language interpretation services, including (i) how long in advance a patient who needs to use the services when seeking consultation has to make a booking for the services, (ii) the circumstances under which a patient at the accident and emergency department will be provided with such services urgently, (iii) the number of sign language interpreters, and (iv) the weekly service timetable;
(2)
whether HA allows patients to arrange, on their own, their family members or friends to provide sign language interpretation services, so as to facilitate their communication with healthcare personnel; if HA does, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3)
whether HA has formulated guidelines specifying that a doctor must take appropriate measures (e.g. arranging for sign language interpretation services or making use of writings) to ensure effective communication with a deaf-mute patient in situations such as diagnosing the patient and explaining the treatment options to the patient; if HA has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?




Question 13
(For written reply)

Trading of animals

Hon Elizabeth QUAT to ask:
From 2007 to 2018, the diversity of species imported into Hong Kong according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora increased by 57%. As pointed out by a study conducted locally, this was likely due to an increasing demand for wildlife rather than the stepping up of law enforcement actions by the authorities. For the exotic pet trade alone, such period saw the import of 4 million live animals comprising at least 580 species, representing a nine-fold increase from 2007. Besides, the total number of animals imported in 2016 for the purpose of pet trading (excluding dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs) amounted to as vast as 1 108 000. Regarding the trading of animals, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
of the current number of licensed animal traders (excluding traders of cats and dogs), broken down by the type of animals traded;
(2)
of the number of animals traded by licensed animal traders in each of the past 10 years, broken down by the type of animals;
(3)
of the number of pet birds traded by licensed animal traders in the past three years, broken down by the species to which the birds belonged; if such information is not available, of the reasons for that, and whether it will keep such statistics in future;
(4)
whether there were bulk imports of pet birds in the past three years; if so, of the number of birds involved on each occasion, and whether it knows the number of traders to which the imported birds were subsequently sold;
(5)
why the requirement for licensed animal traders to keep a detailed record of transactions is applicable only to pet birds and not other animals;
(6)
of the health screening measures put in place to contain the zoonotic risks posted by the trading of exotic pets;
(7)
whether the Government has set up a comprehensive database on the import and the trading of animals, including information such as the species, countries of origin and the purposes (such as for re-export and for sale locally); if it has, whether it will make public the database; if it has not, of the reasons for that, and whether it will consider doing so;
(8)
whether the Government will review if the current legislation and policies governing the trading of animals are sufficient; if not, of the reasons for that; and
(9)
whether the Government will consider banning the import of animal species that are captured illegally in their countries of origin; if not, of the reasons for that?




Question 14
(For written reply)

(Translation)

Principal payment holiday schemes
introduced by financial institutions

Hon Frankie YICK to ask:
It is learnt that quite a number of banks and finance companies ("financial institutions") have introduced principal payment holiday schemes to assist small and medium enterprises affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 epidemic in tackling cash flow problems. However, some owners of commercial vehicles have indicated that such schemes often come with additional conditions (e.g. applicants being required to take out an insurance policy). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
whether it knows which financial institutions have introduced principal payment holiday schemes for owners of commercial vehicles; the respective numbers of relevant applications received, approved and rejected by such institutions since February this year, with a breakdown by class of vehicles; if there were rejected applications, of the reasons for that;
(2)
whether it knows the additional conditions of the various principal payment holiday schemes which are available for application by owners of commercial vehicles; whether the Government will request the relevant financial institutions to cancel the additional conditions, so as to avoid increasing the financial burden of the vehicle owners concerned; and
(3)
of the measures in place to encourage financial institutions which have not yet introduced principal payment holiday schemes to roll out such schemes?




Question 15
(For written reply)

(Translation)

Distance Business Programme

Hon Charles Peter MOK to ask:
To support enterprises to continue their businesses and provide services during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 epidemic, the Government has allocated a funding of $500 million from the Anti-epidemic Fund for launching a Distance Business Programme ("the Programme"), under which funding support will be granted through a fast-track approval process for enterprises to adopt information technology ("IT") solutions for developing distance business. The Programme covers 12 IT solution categories relating to distance business (e.g. online business, online order taking and delivery, and smart self-service systems) and opens for applications between 18 May and 31 October this year. In addition, the Government has published an IT Service Providers Reference List ("the List") for reference by applicant enterprises. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
of the respective to-date numbers of applications received, approved and rejected; a breakdown of the number of enterprises whose applications were approved by (i) the number of employees and (ii) the number of years of operation, the respective numbers of applications received and approved under each IT solution category, as well as a breakdown of the rejected cases (if any) by reason for the rejection; whether it has assessed if the funding is sufficient to provide support for all eligible applicants; if it has assessed and the outcome is in the negative, whether it will provide additional funding in a timely manner;
(2)
of the respective to-date numbers of applications for inclusion in the List received, approved and rejected; a breakdown of the number of service providers whose applications were approved by (i) the number of employees and (ii) the number of years of operation, as well as a breakdown of the rejected cases (if any) by reason for the rejection;
(3)
of the details of the publicity efforts made for the Programme, including the means (e.g. holding briefing sessions or placing advertisements on mainstream or online media), number of times, number of participants and expenditure; and
(4)
whether it has received complaints that websites with a domain name comprising "D-Biz" (the English abbreviation of the Programme) were found to have disguised as the official website or have misled the public; if so, of the details and the follow-up actions?




Question 16
(For written reply)

(Translation)

Provision of assistance for people not covered by relief measures

Hon Elizabeth QUAT to ask:
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 epidemic has caused a substantial drop in the income of quite a number of industries and their practitioners, and pushed up the unemployment rate to a record high in 10 years. Although the Government has implemented two rounds of relief measures, quite a number of employers and employees affected by the epidemic have relayed that they are unable to benefit from such measures. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
given that taxi drivers have to hold a valid taxi driver identity card any time during the period between 1 January and 31 March this year for them to be eligible for applying for a subsidy under the relief measures, but it is learnt that currently more than 10 000 taxi drivers are ineligible for making application as their taxi driver identity cards have expired, whether the Government will relax the eligibility requirements so that such drivers may apply for the subsidy as long as they are able to produce (i) a valid rental agreement and proof of work in respect of the aforesaid period and (ii) a valid taxi driver identity card replaced after April this year;
(2)
as the trade of rental/hire of pleasure vessels, whose business has been hard hit by the epidemic, is unable to benefit from the relief measures, whether the Government will provide a subsidy for this trade;
(3)
given that the amounts of subsidy that beauty parlours may receive under the relief measures are divided into three tiers according to the number of employees, but quite a number of beauticians are self-employed persons instead of the employees of beauty parlours, resulting in many relatively large-scale beauty parlours being eligible for applying for a subsidy of a lower amount only, whether the Government will determine the levels of subsidy for which beauty parlours are eligible by the floor areas of their shops;
(4)
given that the wage subsidies provided for employers under the Employment Support Scheme ("ESS") are calculated on the basis of their numbers of employees with Mandatory Provident Fund ("MPF") accounts, but quite a number of employees of certain trades are aged 65 or above and without MPF accounts (e.g. each restaurant having two employees of such type on average, and around 30 000 to 40 000 security guards in the territory being such type of employees), whether the Government will enhance ESS to cover this type of employees;
(5)
given that as operators of suspended working platforms are not construction workers registered under the relevant legislation, they are unable to benefit from the subsidies disbursed to construction workers under the two rounds of relief measures, of the Government's measures in place to fill the gaps, so as to assist operators of suspended working platforms; and
(6)
given that no targeted assistance has been provided under the two rounds of relief measures for employees with intellectual disabilities, of the Government's measures to help this type of employees, so that they will not be dismissed or their income will not be reduced as a result of suspension of work, wage cut or reduction in working hours?




Question 17
(For written reply)

(Translation)

Maintenance and redevelopment of rental housing estates

Dr Hon Helena WONG to ask:
Some public rental housing ("PRH") residents residing in Ma Tau Wai Estate, Oi Man Estate, Chun Seen Mei Chuen and Lok Man Sun Chuen of Kowloon City have relayed to me that as quite a number of PRH buildings in Kowloon West are over 40 years of age and are dilapidated, they are very concerned about the structural safety of such buildings. Besides, the Chief Executive stated in the 2018 Policy Address that the Government would firmly support the Hong Kong Settlers Housing Corporation Limited in taking forward the redevelopment project of Tai Hang Sai ("THS") Estate, a private rental housing estate under THS, as soon as possible with a view to improving facilities of the estate and increasing housing supply. Regarding the maintenance and redevelopment of rental housing estates, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
given that the first cycle of the Comprehensive Structural Investigation Programme ("CSIP") conducted by the Hong Kong Housing Authority ("HA") on selected aged public housing estates ("PHEs") was completed in 2018, of the following information on each of the estates for which the structural investigation as well as the required repair and structural strengthening works have been completed (set out in a table):
(i)
name of the estate,
(ii)
number of flats in the estate,
(iii)
date of completion of the estate,
(iv)
commencement year of the investigation,
(v)
completion year of the investigation,
(vi)
scope of the repair and structural strengthening works (i.e. (a) concrete repair, (b) seepage repair, (c) structural strengthening, and (d) structural improvement),
(vii)
actual expenditure on the repair and structural strengthening works for each flat on average, and
(viii)
average annual maintenance expenditure on each flat after the completion of the required repair and structural strengthening works;
 
(2)
given that HA commenced in 2018 the second cycle of CSIP, which comprised 38 estates the investigation of which was completed under the first cycle of CSIP and which were awaiting re-examination, six factory estates and 33 other estates, of the following information of the second cycle of CSIP:
(i)
the name of each of those estates the investigation for which has been completed but the repair and structural strengthening works have not been completed, as well as the latest progress and the expected completion date of such works,
(ii)
the name of each of those estates the investigation for which is in progress, and the expected completion date of the investigation, and
(iii)
the name of each of those estates the investigation for which has not yet commenced, and the expected commencement date of the investigation;
(3)
given that some residents are worried that aged PRH buildings will be ageing and their conditions will deteriorate more quickly and drastically, whether HA will consider shortening the cycle for conducting comprehensive structural investigation for aged estates from the existing cycle of once every 15 years to once every 10 years, so as to align it with the cycle for conducting building inspection for aged private buildings by owners as required by the Buildings Department; if not, of the reasons for that;
(4)
of the details of the redevelopment projects for PHEs which are being redeveloped or have been planned for redevelopment (including Tung Tau Estate Block 22, Pak Tin Estate and Mei Tung Estate):
(i)
name of the estate,
(ii)
number of flats before redevelopment,
(iii)
rehousing arrangements for affected households (including details of the reception estates accommodating these households),
(iv)
the way in which the estate is being/will be redeveloped,
(v)
number of flats after redevelopment, and
(vi)
expected completion date;
(5)
of the details (including the timetables) of the redevelopment projects for HA's estates in Kowloon West that are approaching or over 40 years of age (e.g. Ma Tau Wai Estate, Oi Man Estate, Nam Shan Estate, Lai Kok Estate, Chak On Estate, Tai Hang Tung Estate and Shek Kip Mei Estate (for the remaining 9 blocks)); if redevelopment projects have not been contemplated, of the details of the strengthening and improvement works to be carried out; whether it will consider formulating a rolling programme for large scale redevelopment of aged estates so as to facilitate the smooth and orderly implementation of the redevelopment projects;
(6)
whether it knows the details (including the timetables) of the redevelopment projects for the estates in Kowloon West under the Hong Kong Housing Society that are over 40 years of age (e.g. Chun Seen Mei Chuen and Lok Man Sun Chuen); and
(7)
given that the validity period of the planning permission granted by the Town Planning Board for the redevelopment of THS Estate will expire by the end of June this year, whether it knows the progress of the redevelopment project for this estate and the rehousing arrangements for the affected tenants?




Question 18
(For written reply)

(Translation)

The fifth generation mobile communications and technology

Hon CHAN Hak-kan to ask:
Three mobile network operators ("MNOs") already launched the commercial fifth generation ("5G") mobile communications services on 1 April this year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
of the current coverage of 5G mobile communications services;
(2)
of its plan to extend the coverage of 5G mobile communications services and the relevant timetable;
(3)
of the current number of 5G radio base stations across the territory and, among them, the number and percentage of those provided in government premises;
(4)
as the Government has indicated that it is proactively exploring with satellite operators the feasibility of relocating the satellite earth stations from Tai Po to Chung Hom Kok Teleport to enable MNOs to make wider use of all 5G bands (including the 3.5 GHz band) in Hong Kong for the provision of services, of the progress of the relevant exploration;
(5)
whether it knows the current number of 5G cybersecurity specialists in Hong Kong; of the Government's measures to increase the number of such specialists to help promote the development of 5G mobile communications services; and
(6)
as the Office of the Communications Authority launched the "Subsidy Scheme for Encouraging Early Deployment of 5G" under the Anti-epidemic Fund last month to encourage the various sectors to deploy 5G technology to foster innovation and smart city applications, of the effectiveness of the Scheme as envisaged by the Government?




Question 19
(For written reply)

(Translation)

Using unoccupied public housing estates as quarantine facilities

Hon Andrew WAN to ask:
To cope with the epidemic, the Government announced on 25 January this year its intention to use the unoccupied Fai Ming Estate in Fanling as quarantine facilities and temporary accommodation for healthcare staff in need. On the following day, a number of facilities in the Estate were vandalized by some persons who were opposed to the arrangement. Since the restoration works concerned would take at least six to eight months to complete, the Government instead requisitioned in early February the unoccupied Chun Yeung Estate in Fo Tan for use as quarantine facilities. Some prospective tenants who have accepted advance allocation offers of units in these two public rental housing ("PRH") estates have indicated that the above situation has disrupted their arrangements for relocation, and those prospective tenants living in subdivided units even need to continue to live in deplorable conditions and pay exorbitant rents. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
of the following information on each of the various quarantine facilities since January this year:
(i)
name,
(ii)
address,
(iii)
total number of quarantine units,
(iv)
dates on which operation commenced and ceased (if applicable), and
(v)
monthly numbers of units used and numbers of persons admitted thereto;
(2)
of the progress of the construction of quarantine facilities by the Government at a government site at Penny's Bay, and the respective anticipated dates of completion and commissioning; whether it will, upon completion of those quarantine facilities, forthwith return Chun Yeung Estate to the Hong Kong Housing Authority to enable prospective tenants to move in; if so, of the expected duration between the date of returning the Estate and the handing-over date of the units to the prospective tenants;
(3)
of the number of prospective tenants who have accepted advance allocation offers of units in Fai Ming Estate and Chun Yeung Estate and the total number of persons involved, with a breakdown by the number of family members of the prospective tenants; the respective numbers of prospective tenants who have chosen the following arrangements after learning that the intake would be deferred:
(i)
admission to Po Tin Interim Housing,
(ii)
acceptance of allocation of another unit in a new PRH estate,
(iii)
acceptance of allocation of another unit in an old PRH estate,
(iv)
continuing to wait for the originally allocated PRH unit, and
(v)
other arrangements;
(4)
given that at present some hotels have indicated willingness to provide their rooms for use as quarantine facilities, of the reasons why the Government still uses unoccupied PRH estates as quarantine facilities;
(5)
given that some prospective tenants of Chun Yeung Estate and Fai Ming Estate have indicated that the one-off ex-gratia allowance of $6,000 per household granted by the Government to them is insufficient to compensate for the losses incurred on them due to the delay in intake, whether the Government will provide additional allowance, e.g. an extra allowance of $6,000 per month per household from the date on which the letter on advance flat allocation was issued to the date of intake;
(6)
of the respective numbers of PRH units in Sha Tin District and the North District which are available for allocation, with a breakdown by name of housing estate and type of units; whether it will offer to the prospective tenants of Fai Ming Estate and Chun Yeung Estate the choice of residing temporarily in PRH units in the same districts; and
(7)
of the average duration in the past five financial years between the time when a prospective tenant completed the intake formalities in an estate office and the time when the unit was handed over to the tenant; how such duration is expected to compare with the relevant duration concerning the prospective tenants of Fai Ming Estate and Chun Yeung Estate?




Question 20
(For written reply)

(Translation)

Job creation for architectural, surveying,
town planning and landscape sectors

Hon Tony TSE to ask:
The second-round relief measures launched by the Government include the provision of $6 billion to create around 30 000 time-limited jobs in both public and private bodies in the coming two years. Such jobs include (i) positions for seasoned professionals in the architectural sector, (ii) positions for technicians and supporting staff of construction projects as well as repair and maintenance works, and (iii) trainee positions for fresh graduates in professions such as building surveying, town planning, estate surveying and land surveying. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1)
of the details of the newly created positions in the four sectors of architecture, surveying, town planning and landscape, including (i) the number of positions, job nature and entry requirements (with a breakdown by sector), and (ii) the mode by which funding is provided by the Government; the latest progress for the implementation of such measures;
(2)
of the specific approaches adopted by the Government for facilitating the creation of the aforesaid positions by the various public and private bodies, as well as the details; and
(3)
of the measures put in place to ensure that the job contents of the trainee positions will be recognized by the relevant professional bodies as the graduate training contents required for acquiring the professional qualifications, so that the years of relevant working experience can be converted into the required number of graduate training hours?