LegCo Paper No. CB 474/95-96

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
MINUTES
No. 18 of 1995/96

Minutes of the sitting held on Wednesday 7 February 1996 at 2.30 p.m.

Present:

    President : The Honourable Andrew WONG Wang-fat, O.B.E., J.P.
    The Honourable Allen LEE Peng-fei, C.B.E., J.P.
    The Honourable Mrs. Selina CHOW LIANG Shuk-yee, O.B.E., J.P.
    The Honourable Martin LEE Chu-ming, Q.C., J.P.
    Dr. the Honourable David LI Kwok-po, O.B.E., LL.D.(Cantab), J.P.O
    The Honourable SZETO Wah
    The Honourable LAU Wong-fat, O.B.E., J.P.
    The Honourable Edward HO Sing-tin, O.B.E., J.P.
    The Honourable Ronald Joseph ARCULLI, O.B.E., J.P.
    The Honourable Mrs. Miriam LAU Kin-yee, O.B.E., J.P.
    Dr. the Honourable Edward LEONG Che-hung, O.B.E., J.P.
    The Honourable Albert CHAN Wai-yip
    The Honourable CHEUNG Man-kwong
    The Honourable CHIM Pui-chung
    The Honourable Frederick FUNG Kin-kee
    The Honourable Michael HO Mun-ka
    Dr. the Honourable HUANG Chen-ya, M.B.E.
    The Honourable Emily LAU Wai-hing
    The Honourable LEE Wing-tat
    The Honourable Eric LI Ka-cheung, J.P.
    The Honourable Fred LI Wah-ming
    The Honourable Henry TANG Ying-yen, J.P.
    The Honourable James TO Kun-sun
    Dr. the Honourable Samuel WONG Ping-wai, M.B.E., F.Eng., J.P.
    Dr. the Honourable Philip WONG Yu-hong
    Dr. the Honourable YEUNG Sum
    The Honourable Howard YOUNG, J.P.
    The Honourable Zachary WONG Wai-yin
    The Honourable Christine LOH Kung-wai
    The Honourable James TIEN Pei-chun, O.B.E., J.P.
    The Honourable LEE Cheuk-yan
    The Honourable CHAN Kam-lam
    The Honourable CHAN Wing-chan
    The Honourable CHAN Yuen-han
    The Honourable Andrew CHENG Kar-foo
    The Honourable Paul CHENG Ming-fun
    The Honourable CHENG Yiu-tong
    Dr. the Honourable Anthony CHEUNG Bing-leung
    The Honourable CHEUNG Hon-chung
    The Honourable CHOY Kan-pui, J.P.
    The Honourable David CHU Yu-lin
    The Honourable Albert HO Chun-yan
    The Honourable IP Kwok-him
    The Honourable LAU Chin-shek
    The Honourable Ambrose LAU Hon-chuen, J.P.
    Dr. the Honourable LAW Cheung-kwok
    The Honourable LAW Chi-kwong
    The Honourable LEE Kai-ming
    The Honourable LEUNG Yiu-chung
    The Honourable Bruce LIU Sing-lee
    The Honourable LO Suk-ching
    The Honourable MOK Ying-fan
    The Honourable Margaret NG
    The Honourable NGAN Kam-chuen
    The Honourable SIN Chung-kai
    The Honourable TSANG Kin-shing
    Dr. the Honourable John TSE Wing-ling
    The Honourable Mrs. Elizabeth WONG CHIEN Chi-lien, C.B.E., I.S.O., J.P.
    The Honourable Lawrence YUM Sin-ling

Absent:

    The Honourable NGAI Shiu-kit, O.B.E., J.P.

In attendance:

The Honourable Mrs. Anson CHAN, C.B.E., J.P.
The Chief Secretary
The Honourable Donald TSANG Yam-kuen, O.B.E., J.P.
The Financial Secretary
The Honourable Jeremy Fell MATHEWS, C.M.G., J.P.
The Attorney General
Mr. CHAU Tak-hay, C.B.E., J.P.
Secretary for Recreation and Culture
Mr. Haider Hatim Tyebjee BARMA, I.S.O., J.P.
Secretary for Transport
Mr. Dominic WONG Shing-wah, O.B.E., J.P.
Secretary for Housing
Mrs. Katherine FOK LO Shiu-ching, O.B.E., J.P.
Secretary for Health and Welfare
Mr. Rafael HUI Si-yan, J.P.
Secretary for Financial Services
Mr. Peter LAI Hing-ling, J.P.
Secretary for Security
Mr. KWONG Ki-chi, J.P.
Secretary for the Treasury

Clerks to the Legislative Council:

    Mr. LAW Kam-sang, Deputy Secretary General
    Miss Pauline NG Man-wah, Assistant Secretary General (1)
    Mr. Ray CHAN Yum-mou, Assistant Secretary General (2)

PAPERS

The following papers were laid on the table pursuant to Standing Order 14(2):

Subsidiary Legislation

L.N. NO.£Åé01

1. Census and Statistics (Annual Survey of Banks, Deposit-Taking Companies, Restricted Licence Banks and Representative Offices of Foreign Banks) (Amendment) Order 1996

64/96

2. Prisons (Amendment) Order 1996

65/96

3. Prisons (Hostel) (Amendment) Order 1996

66/96

4. Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board (Fees) (Amendment) Rules 1996

67/96

5. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Defamation Ordinance) Order

(C) 10/96

6. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Foreshore and Sea-Bed (Reclamations) Ordinance) Order

(C) 11/96

7. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Animals (Control of Experiments) Ordinance) Order

(C) 12/96

Sessional Papers 1995/96

No. 54

-

The Lord Wilson Heritage Trust Annual Report 1994-1995

No. 55

-

Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Reports of the Director of Audit on the Accounts of the Hong Kong Government for the year ended 31 March 1995 and the Results of Value for Money Audits (January 1996 - P.A.C. Report No.25)

No. 56

-

Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health Annual Report 1994-95

Address

Mr. Eric LI addressed the Council on the "Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Reports of the Director of Audit on the Accounts of the Hong Kong Government for the year ended 31 March 1995 and the Results of Value for Money Audits (January 1996 - P.A.C. Report No.25)" which he presented.

QUESTIONS

1. Mr. NGAN Kam-chuen asked Question 1.

The Secretary for Security replied.

Four Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Security replied.

2. Dr. Samuel WONG asked Question 2.

The Secretary for Transport replied.

Six Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Transport replied.

3. Mr. MOK Ying-fan asked Question 3.

The Secretary for Health and Welfare replied.

Four Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Health and Welfare replied.

4. Dr. CHEUNG Bing-leung asked Question 4.

The Secretary for the Treasury replied.

Four Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for the Treasury replied.

5. Mr. CHAN Wing-chan asked Question 5.

The Secretary for Transport replied.

Six Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Transport replied.

6. Mr. CHAN Kam-lam asked Question 6.

The Secretary for Health and Welfare replied.

Three Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Health and Welfare replied.

Written replies to Questions 7 to 20 were tabled for Members’ information.

BILLS

FIRST READING

Coroners Bill

Immigration Service (Amendment) Bill 1996

The bills were read the first time and ordered to be set down for second reading pursuant to Standing Order 41(3).

SECOND READING

Coroners Bill

The Attorney General moved the second reading and addressed the Council.

Question on the second reading proposed. The President stated that in accordance with Standing Orders, the debate was adjourned and the bill was referred to the House Committee.

Immigration Service (Amendment) Bill 1996

The Secretary for Security moved the second reading and addressed the Council.

Question on the second reading proposed. The President stated that in accordance with Standing Orders, the debate was adjourned and the bill was referred to the House Committee.

MEMBER'S MOTIONS

INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES ORDINANCE

Mrs. Selina CHOW moved the motion in Annex I and addressed the Council.

Question on Mrs. Selina CHOW's motion proposed, put and agreed to.

MAINTAINING HONG KONG’S COMPETITIVENESS AS A LEADING INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE

Mr. Paul CHENG moved the following motion and addressed the Council:

That, as Hong Kong’s future prosperity depends to a great degree on maintaining the territory’s competitiveness as a leading international financial centre and despite the Government’s efforts to date, including the draft Strategy Paper prepared on this issue last year by the Monetary Authority, progress in producing a blueprint for the future has been slow, this Council urges the Government to formulate, in consultation with the industry and the public, a comprehensive plan of action and speed up the implementation of short-term and long-term initiatives focusing on:

i. promoting Hong Kong’s strengths as an international financial centre;

ii. improving the financial infrastructure in terms of the operating systems, training and development, and access to our financial markets;

iii. formulating the necessary regulatory framework and legal requirements to ensure that the financial market forces operate fairly and efficiently, thus improving the protection of investors; and

iv. providing tax and other appropriate incentives to continue to attract key financial services;

to ensure that Hong Kong’s position as a leading international financial centre can be further enhanced not only in the remaining years of the nineties but in the next millennium.

Question on Mr. Paul CHENG's motion proposed.

Miss Christine LOH moved the following amendment to Mr. Paul CHENG's motion and addressed the Council:

To delete "including the draft Strategy Paper prepared on this issue last year by the Monetary Authority, progress in producing a blueprint for the future has been slow, this Council urges the Government to formulate, in consultation with the industry and the public, a comprehensive plan of action and speed up the implementation of short-term and long-term initiatives focusing" and substitute with "the Government could do more to provide an even better environment in order to support the private sector in developing financial services; and that it should focus"; to delete "improving the financial infrastructure in terms of the operating systems, training and development, and access to our financial markets;" and subsitute with "ensuring that the necessary conditions, including world-class infrastructure, open access and a highly skilled workforce, are in place; and"; and to delete "and; iv. providing tax and other appropriate incentives to continue to attract key financial services;".

Question on Miss Christine LOH's amendment to Mr. Paul CHENG's motion proposed.

15 Members spoke on the motion and the amendment.

Mr. Paul CHENG spoke on the amendment.

The Secretary for Financial Services spoke on the motion and the amendment.

Question on Miss Christine LOH's amendment to Mr. Paul CHENG's motion put and negatived.

Mr. Paul CHENG replied.

Question on Mr. Paul CHENG's original motion put and agreed to.

SALE OF FLATS TO SITTING TENANTS SCHEME

Mr. Edward HO moved the following motion and addressed the Council:

That, in order to solve the housing problem of the public and achieve the aim of real ‘full home ownership’, this Council urges the Government to proceed with the sale of public housing rental units to sitting tenants as soon as possible, and to use the sales proceeds thus derived to expedite the production of new public housing units and the redevelopment of old public housing estates.

Question on Mr. Edward HO's motion proposed. The President proposed that the motion and the two proposed amendments, which had been circularised to Members be debated together. There being no dissenting voice, the President ordered that the motion and the proposed amendments be debated together in a joint debate.

Miss CHAN Yuen-han addressed the Council on the motion and her proposed amendment.

At 6:30 p.m., the President's Deputy took the chair during the temporary absence of the President.

Mr. K.K. FUNG addressed the Council on the motion and his proposed amendment.

Four Members spoke on the motion and the amendments.

At 7:03 p.m., the President resumed the chair.

Another seven Members spoke on the motion and the amendments.

Mr. Edward HO spoke on the amendments.

The Secretary for Housing spoke on the motion and the amendments.

Miss CHAN Yuen-han moved the following amendment to Mr. Edward HO's motion:

To delete "and achieve the aim of real ‘full home ownership’" and substitute with "the Government’s public housing policy should focus on public rental housing and be supplemented by the Home Ownership Scheme;"; to delete "proceed with the sale of public housing rental units to" and substitute with "devise a new scheme under which public housing units are sold at replacement cost so as to attract"; and to delete "as soon as possible" and substitute with "to purchase their housing units".

Question on Miss CHAN Yuen-han's amendment to Mr. Edward HO's motion proposed and put. The President stated that he thought the amendment had been negatived.

Mrs Selina CHOW claimed a division. The President then ordered the Council to divide under Standing Order 36(4).

The President announced that there were 18 votes for the amendment and 26 votes against it. (Voting record in Annex II.) He declared that Miss CHAN Yuen-han's amendment to Mr. Edward HO's motion was negatived.

Mr. K.K. FUNG moved the following amendment to Mr. Edward HO's motion:

To add "suitable" after "proceed with the sale of"; and to insert "at replacement cost" before "as soon as possible".

Question on Mr. K.K. FUNG's amendment to Mr. Edward HO's motion proposed and put. The President stated that he thought the amendment had been negatived.

Mr. K.K. FUNG and Mr. Bruce LIU claimed a division. The President then ordered the Council to divide under Standing Order 36(4).

The President announced that there were 17 votes for the amendment and 28 votes against it. (Voting record in Annex III.) He declared that Mr. K.K. FUNG's amendment to Mr. Edward HO's motion was negatived.

Mr. Edward HO replied.

Question on Mr. Edward HO's original motion put. The President stated that he thought the motion had been carried.

Mr. LEE Wing-tat claimed a division. The President then ordered the Council to divide under Standing Order 36(4).

The President announced that there were 46 votes for the motion and none against it. (Voting record in Annex IV.) He declared that Mr. Edward HO's original motion was carried.

NEXT SITTING

In accordance with Standing Orders, the President adjourned the Council until Wednesday, 14 February 1996.

Adjourned accordingly at nine minutes past eight o’clock.

Last Updated on 29 July 1999