Revised version

OP 95/96-26(1) (Issued at 11.00 a.m. on 29.4.96)

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
ORDER PAPER

Wednesday, 1 May 1996 at 2.30 p.m.

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I. PAPERS

Subsidiary Legislation
Sessional Papers 1995/96

II. QUESTIONS

Questions permitted by the President under Standing Order No. 17(4)

III. BILLS

FIRST READING
SECOND READING

• Debates to be adjourned
• Debates to be resumed
COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING

IV. MEMBER'S MOTIONS

1. INDEBTEDNESS OF POLICE OFFICERS
2. ELDERLY POLICY

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I. PAPERS

Sessional Papers 1995/96

1. No. 79 - Hong Kong Examinations Authority

Financial Statements with Programme of Activities for the year ended 31st August 1995

(to be presented by the Secretary for Education and Manpower)

2. No. 80 - The Government Minute in Response to the Report No. 25 of the Public Accounts Committee dated January 1996

(to be presented by the Chief Secretary who will address the Council)

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II. QUESTIONS

Questions permitted by the President under Standing Order No. 17(4)

Dr. C.H. LEONG to ask :

Will the Chief Secretary give a full account to this Council of her recent visit to Beijing?

Public Officer to reply : Chief Secretary

1. Mr. LEE Wing-tat to ask : (Translation)

It has been reported that some members of the Preparatory Committee have suggested that incumbent policy secretaries of the Hong Kong Government should leave the Hong Kong civil service temporarily upon being appointed principal officials-designate of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) in order that they may take up such posts before 1 July 1997. In this regard, will the Government inform this Council of the serious impact the implementation of this suggestion will have on the operation of the Government, and whether it will divide the civil service and cause contradictions among civil servants?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for the Civil Service

2. Mr. Paul CHENG to ask :

It is learnt that China and Macau signed an agreement on trade and cooperation with the European Union (EU) in 1985 and 1992 respectively and that the Republic of Korea is now negotiating a similar agreement with the EU. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of the reasons for the territory not having entered into such an agreement with the EU?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Trade and Industry

3. Mr. James TIEN to ask : (Translation)

Information from the Census and Statistics Department indicates that under the Supplementary Labour Scheme introduced on 1 February this year, the minimum wages for various types of jobs have risen as compared to those for similar types of jobs under the former General Labour Importation Scheme. As a result, some employers in the industrial and commercial sectors cannot afford employing imported labour even though they are unable to recruit local employees. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:

1. the average percentage of increase in the minimum wages for the various types of jobs under the Supplementary Labour Scheme as compared to that for the corresponding jobs under the General Labour Importation Scheme, and how this rate of increase compares with the inflation rate in the same period; and
2. the criteria for determining the minimum wages for the various types of jobs under the Supplementary Labour Scheme; and whether, in determining such wages, consideration has been given to the ability of the employers in various sectors (especially those in small and medium-sized businesses) to afford wage increases in the present economic downturn?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Education and Manpower

4. Mr. Allen LEE to ask : (Translation)

Incidents involving unidentified gases hitting schools have frequently occurred in recent years, and a similar incident has recently occurred in a school near the Tai Po Industrial Estate. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council:

1. whether it has traced the source of the unidentified gas in the above incident, and whether the gas originated from the Tai Po Industrial Estate;
2. whether it will formulate guidelines to advise the management of schools (including schools for the disabled) on taking emergency evacuation measures effectively in the event of a gas attack; and
3. what mechanism the Government has to facilitate the payment of financial assistance and compensation to persons who have to be treated in hospital and those who suffer permanent physical injuries due to gas attacks?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Security

5. Mr. MOK Ying-fan to ask : (Translation)

The Pat Sin Leng hill fire tragedy, which resulted in a number of deaths and critical burns cases, has aroused public concern. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council:

1. which public hospitals have specialist burns units to deal specifically with burns cases and how these units operate;
2. of the number of burns patients who have received treatment, and the number of operations on burns patients in these units from 1993 to 1996; and
3. of the success rate in the treatment of severely burned patients (with burns up to one-third or more of their bodies) in public hospitals during the same period, and how it compares with the respective success rates in the United States, Britain, Japan and China?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Health and Welfare

6. Dr. Samuel WONG to ask : (Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council of:

1. the respective current shortfalls in overnight bus parking spaces of three bus companies (i.e. KMB, CMB and Citybus), as well as the respective numbers of buses of these companies which have to be parked on the road overnight at present; and
2. the reduction in the number of bus parking spaces over the past ten years as a result of the Government permitting bus companies to change the usage of their depots?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Transport

* 7. Mr. NGAN Kam-chuen to ask : (Translation)

It is learnt that the Lok Ma Chau Public Transport Interchange (the Interchange) was completed in April 1995 and scheduled to be brought into use in July of the same year. Although the Transport Department has indicated on two separate occasions that the Interchange would be in use before this Lunar New Year and Easter respectively, this has not materialised. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

1. of the reasons for the delay in putting the Interchange in use;
2. whether the proposed shuttle bus services at the Interchange have been approved by the relevant authorities in China and Hong Kong; and
3. of the general consultation procedures for such cross-border projects and the time required to complete such procedures?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Transport

* 8. Mrs. Miriam LAU to ask : (Translation)

In the last two years, the average import price of light diesel oil stood at about $1.1 per litre, whereas the retail price of vehicle diesel oil has risen from $5.31 per litre in January 1991 to $6.32 per litre in February this year. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council:

1. whether it has information showing the reasons for the big rise in the retail price of vehicle diesel oil; and
2. how it has monitored the extent of each price rise for petroleum products so as to prevent oil companies from setting prices at unreasonable levels?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Economic Services

* 9. Mr. Ambrose LAU to ask : (Translation)

According to the findings of a survey, local jurors have little or no knowledge of the legal terminology mentioned in a judge's summing up to the jury or the medical terminology used in inquiries held by coroners. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council:

1. of the number of cases in which a new jury had to be empanelled due to the low standard of English of the jurors, with a breakdown of such cases by type, in the past three years; and
2. whether it will review the language proficiency required of jurors so as to ensure that trials can be conducted fairly?

Public Officer to reply : Chief Secretary

*10. Dr. David LI to ask :

It has been reported that a recent survey by the Hong Kong Development and Strategic Research Centre shows that a lack of services is the reason given by most people for making little or no use of public libraries. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

1. of the number and locations of public libraries in the territory as well as the services they provide;
2. whether any survey has been conducted to find out if the variety of books in public libraries is sufficient to meet the demand of users; if so, what the results are; if not, why not; and
3. whether it will consider extending the opening hours of public libraries at weekends so as to enable the working population to utilise the library services?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Recreation and Culture

*11. Mr. Fred LI to ask : (Translation)

With regard to a recent study by the Faculty of Dentistry of the Hong Kong University which revealed that up to 70% of the elderly are not provided with dental treatment, will the Government inform this Council:

1. why no public dental services are specifically provided for the elderly; and
2. whether it will review the demand of the elderly for dental services and consider providing dental services in health centres for the elderly; if not, why not?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Health and Welfare

*12. Mr. IP Kwok-him to ask : (Translation)

It has been reported that, in the course of investigating a fire which broke out in a flat in the Western District last month, the Police had discovered dangerous goods being stored in the flat without licence. As the incident has aroused widespread public concern, will the Government inform this Council:

1. of the number of cases concerning the storage of dangerous goods without licence in each of the past three years;
2. what measures are in place to prevent people from storing dangerous goods without licence; and
3. whether it has any plans to review or amend in the near future the existing system for regulating the issue of licences for storing dangerous goods?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Security

*13 Dr. LAW Cheung-kwok to ask : (Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council:

1. of the amount of donation by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (the RHKJC) for funding social activities (e.g. education and sports) for which the Government is responsible in each of the past three years; and
2. of the measures in place to monitor the social activities funded by the donation of the RHKJC and for which the Government is responsible; and what the details of such measures are?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Health and Welfare

*14. Miss Emily LAU to ask :

It is learnt that one of the items in the list of requests for assistance from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Preparatory Committee (PC) to the Administration is a request for Radio Television Hong Kong air time to broadcast programmes about the work of the PC. Will the Administration inform this Council:

1. of the policy regarding the allocation of RTHK's air time for broadcast on radio and television;
2. whether the Administration will comply with the PC's request; and
3. whether the policy referred to in (a) above prohibits the use of the air time for broadcasting political propaganda; if so, how the Administration will ensure that this policy is adhered to?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Recreation and Culture

*15. Mr. WONG Wai-yin to ask : (Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council:

1. of the fire prevention facilities currently installed on the passenger ferries of the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited, the Star Ferry Company Limited, and the other locally registered ferries on the Hong Kong/China and Hong Kong/Macau routes; and when the standards of such fire prevention facilities were first prescribed by the Government;
2. how the authorities concerned ensure that the fire prevention installations on such ferries meet the standards prescribed by the Government; and whether any ferry companies have been prosecuted for breach of the standards, if so, the penalty imposed; and
3. whether it will review the current standards of fire prevention facilities applicable to ferries; if so, when the review will be conducted; if not, why not?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Economic Services

*16. Mr. Ambrose LAU to ask : (Translation)

It has been reported recently in the press that maintenance works are being carried out on some 160 private dangerous slopes, and that such works will not be completed before the coming rainy season. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council of the emergency measures that will be taken before the onset of the rainy season, so as to reduce the potential hazards of these slopes?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Works

*17. Mr. Fred LI to ask : (Translation)

At present, when credit card users or loan borrowers default on repayment, some banks and finance companies, make enquires or seek to recover the debts from their referees, thus causing nuisance to the referees. In reply to a question in this Council in January this year, the Government stated that the matter would be studied by a Working Party to be formed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the banking industry associations to develop a "Banking Code of Practice". In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

1. when such study will be completed and its recommendations implemented; and
2. whether, in studying the matter, consideration will be given to:
   1. requiring applicants to produce their referees' written consent as well as requiring banks and finance companies to contact the referees to verify their consent; if not, why not;
   2. stipulating the provisions concerning the responsibilities of referees and requiring banks and finance companies to inform referees of such provisions in writing; if not, why not; and
   3. requiring banks and finance companies to inform the referees concerned in writing when credit card users or loan borrowers become insolvent and have disappeared, and to refrain from recovering the debts from the referees or passing on the personal data of the referees to debt collecting companies, if not, why not?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Financial Services

*18. Dr. LAW Cheung-kwok to ask : (Translation)

At the time when the Bank of China started to issue Hong Kong dollar banknotes, there were reports that such banknotes could not be exchanged for the local currency in some places in Europe and America. Moreover, during a recent trip to Taiwan, I personally experienced that Hong Kong dollar banknotes issued by the Bank of China were not exchangeable in banks and hotels in Taiwan. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it is aware of the reasons why Hong Kong dollar banknotes issued by the Bank of China are not exchangeable in Taiwan and whether the circulation of such banknotes in Europe and America has encountered similar situation; if so, what remedial measures have been taken by the Government in this regard?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Financial Services

*19. Miss Emily LAU to ask : (Translation)

With regard to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)'s proposal to bring the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the Exchange) within the jurisdiction of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, will the Government inform this Council:

1. of the reasons for the ICAC putting forward such a proposal at this time;
2. whether the scope of the proposed inclusion of the Exchange will cover the regulation of the staff, council members, members of various standing committees as well as individual and corporate members of the Exchange; and
3. of the progress of the discussion between the ICAC and the Exchange on the proposal?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Financial Services

*20. Mr. WONG Wai-yin to ask : (Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council:

1. of the number of Correctional Services Department staff who were disciplined in the past three years for gambling among themselves or gambling with prisoners while on duty and of the penalties imposed on such staff; and
2. of the monitoring measures in place to eradicate the problem of Correctional Services Department staff gambling while on duty?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Security

* For written reply.

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III. BILLS

FIRST READING

1. Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 1996
2. Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill 1996
3. Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 1996
4. Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 1996
5. Business Registration (Amendment) Bill 1996
6. Estate Duty (Amendment) Bill 1996
7. Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill 1996
8. Motor Vehicles (First Registration Tax) (Amendment) Bill 1996
9. Air Passenger Departure Tax (Amendment) Bill 1996
10. Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 1996
11. Dutiable Commodities (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 1996

SECOND READING

Debates to be adjourned

1. Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 1996

:

Secretary for Economic Services

2. Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill 1996

:

Secretary for the Treasury

3. Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 1996

:

Secretary for the Treasury

4. Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 1996

:

Secretary for the Treasury

5. Business Registration (Amendment) Bill 1996

:

Secretary for the Treasury

6. Estate Duty (Amendment) Bill 1996

:

Secretary for the Treasury

7. Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill 1996

:

Secretary for the Treasury

8. Motor Vehicles (First Registration Tax) (Amendment) Bill 1996

:

Secretary for the Treasury

9. Air Passenger Departure Tax (Amendment) Bill 1996

:

Secretary for the Treasury

10. Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 1996

:

Secretary for the Treasury

11. Dutiable Commodities (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 1996

:

Secretary for the Treasury

Debates to be resumed

12. Legal Aid Services Council (No.2) Bill	:	Chief Secretary
13. Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 1996	:	Secretary for Economic Services
14. Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 1995	:	Secretary for the Treasury

COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING

1. Legal Aid Services Council (No.2) Bill

:

Chief Secretary

2. Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 1996

:

Secretary for Economic Services

3. Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 1995

:

Secretary for the Treasury

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IV. MEMBER'S MOTIONS

1. INDEBTEDNESS OF POLICE OFFICERS

Mr. Ambrose LAU : (Translation)

That this Council is deeply concerned about the increasing indebtedness of police officers in recent years and, as the burden of debts on police officers would affect them in performing their duties as well as the morale and clean and honest image of the Police Force, this Council urges the Government to expeditiously inquire in depth into the reasons for the increasing borrowing by police officers and to consider and formulate policies which can effectively solve the problem, in order to boost public confidence in the Police Force and uphold its image in maintaining public order and protecting citizens.

Public Officer to attend : Secretary for Security

2. ELDERLY POLICY

Dr. C.H. LEONG :

That this Council urges the Government to expeditiously come up with a comprehensive plan for the care of 'the elderly at risk', taking into consideration their health problems, financial needs, residential needs and the need for social support, in particular during crisis situations, so as to secure a dignified old age for this group of senior citizens.

Amendments to Dr. C.H. LEONG 's motion

1. Miss CHAN Yuen-han :

To delete all the words after "That" and substitute with ", in order to secure a dignified old age for all senior citizens in Hong Kong, this Council is of the view that the Government should expeditiously come up with a proactive and forward-looking elderly policy; and also urges the Government to take into consideration the health, financial and housing needs of 'the elderly at risk' and establish a comprehensive community support network, including the development of outreach services for the elderly and the provision of free emergency alarm facilities for the needy elderly".

2. Mr. LEUNG Yiu-chung :

To add "and to set up an independent Committee on Elderly Affairs" after "crisis situations,".

Public Officer to attend : Secretary for Health and Welfare

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