Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Revised version
A 97/98-13(1)
(Issued at 11:00 am on 20.10.97)

Provisional Legislative Council

Agenda
Wednesday 22 October 1997 and Thursday
23 October 1997 at 2:30 pm

I. Papers

Subsidiary Legislation	L.N. No.
1. Railways (Exemption) Order	466/97
2. Country Parks and Special Areas (Amendment) Regulation 1997	473/97
3. Marine Parks and Marine Reserves (Amendment) Regulation 1997	474/97
4. Dangerous Goods (General) (Amendment) Regulation 1997	475/97
5. Dangerous Goods (Government Explosives Depots) (Amendment) Regulation 1997	476/97
6. Mines (Safety) (Amendment) Regulation 1997	477/97
7. Mining (General) (Amendment) Regulation 1997	478/97
8. Dutiable Commodities (Amendment) Regulation 1997	479/97
9. Pesticides (Amendment) Regulation 1997	480/97
10. Statutes of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Amendment) Statutes 1997	481/97

Sessional Papers

1.No.18-	Sewage Services Trading Fund Annual Report 1996-1997 and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 1997
(to be presented by Secretary for Works)
2.No.19-	Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund Annual Report 1996-97 and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 1997
(to be presented by Secretary for Works)
3.No.20-	Companies Registry Annual Report 1996-97
(to be presented by Secretary for Financial Services)
4.No.21-	The Land Registry Trading Fund Hong Kong Annual Report 1996-97
(to be presented by Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands)
5.No.22-	Agricultural Products Scholarship Fund Report for the period from 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997
(to be presented by Secretary for Economic Services)
6.No.23 -	Marine Fish Scholarship Fund Report for the period from 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997
(to be presented by Secretary for Economic Services)
7.No.24-	Statement of Accounts for the Vegetable Marketing Organization for the year ended 31 March 1997
(to be presented by Secretary for Economic Services)
8.No.25-	Statement of Accounts for the Fish Marketing Organization for the year ended 31 March 1997
(to be presented by Secretary for Economic Services)
9.No.26-	Hongkong Post Annual Report 1996/1997
(to be presented by Secretary for Economic Services)
10.No.27-	Office of the Telecommunications Authority Trading Fund Report for the period from 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997
(to be presented by Secretary for Economic Services)

Hon Ronald Arculli will address the Council on the Building (Administration) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulation 1997 which was laid on the Table of the Council on 27 September 1997.

II. Questions for Written Replies

1.Mr Ambrose LAU to ask :

(Translation)

As from 1 September this year, the Octopus can be used for six different modes of public transport in Hong Kong (namely the Mass Transit Railway, the Kowloon-Canton Railway, the Light Rail Transit, the Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB), the Citybus and the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry). However, in just over a month, there have been many complaints about the card from members of the public. In this connection, does the Government know:

the usage rate of the Octopus in respect of the various modes of public transport mentioned above;
the respective numbers of KMB and Citybus vehicles installed with Fare Deducting Processors, and their respective proportions to their total numbers of vehicles;
the total number of complaints about the Octopus received so far and the nature of such complaints;
whether, in promoting the Octopus, the organizations concerned have paid special attention to the needs of children and senior citizens by helping them learn how to use the Octopus; and in view of the many complaints lodged by members of the public, whether publicity will be stepped up to enable them to understand better how to use the Octopus; and
whether it has plans to review the actual effectiveness of the Octopus and its acceptability to the general public; if so, the basis of such a review?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Transport
2.Mrs Selina CHOW to ask :
(Translation)

In view of the frequent occurrence of traffic accidents in Hong Kong recently, will the Government inform this Council:

of the number of road traffic accidents and casualties in Hong Kong in each of the past three years and, in relation to the consequential prosecutions, of the number of police officers among the drivers who were found guilty of careless driving or reckless driving by the court, and the penalties imposed on them;
of the measures in place to ensure that traffic accidents involving police officers are dealt with impartially by the Police; and
whether it will consider increasing the penalties for the offences of careless driving and reckless driving so as to enhance the deterrent effect?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Security
3. Mr CHAN Wing-chan to ask :
(Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council of the percentage of compensation of employees in the Gross Domestic Product of Hong Kong, broken down by "industry sector", during each of the three years from 1994 to 1996?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Financial Services

4.Mr K K FUNG to ask :

(Translation)

The Rules of Procedure of the Provisional Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have spelt out that the Chief Executive may attend meetings of the Provisional Legislative Council for the purpose of answering Members' questions put to him on the work of the Government. Will the Government inform this Council whether it is aware of any arrangements being made by the Chief Executive in this respect and, if no such arrangements are being made, of the reasons for it?

Public Officer to reply :

Chief Secretary for
Administration

5. Mr CHAN Choi-hi to ask : (Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council:

when the findings of the Report on the Study on the Ecological Value of Fish Ponds in Deep Bay Area will be published;
whether approval will be granted for building residential premises over fish ponds in the vicinity of the Mai Po Marshes;
whether consideration will be given to extending the scope of the Mai Po Marshes buffer zone; and
whether it will work with the Central Government to ensure that this piece of land, which has been listed as China's seventh wetland, is free from environmental pollution?

Public Officer to reply :

Secretary for Planning,
Environment and Lands

6.Dr TANG Siu-tong to ask :(Translation)

In the coming 2 to 3 years, quite a number of legitimate young children of Hong Kong residents who were born in the Mainland may settle in the territory. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether:

the immunization that these children received in the Mainland, such as BCG, combined vaccine and so on, meets the standard or requirement of the territory;
it has made any arrangements for these children to receive vaccination (or to receive vaccination again) after their arrival in Hong Kong; and
it will arrange any medical check-ups, such as chest X-ray examinations, for these children, so as to safeguard their health and that of the public?

Public Officer to reply :

Secretary for Health
and Welfare

7.Mr CHOY Kan-pui to ask : (Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council:

whether internal guidelines have been issued on the opening hours of individual post offices;
why some post offices open as late as 9:30 a.m.;
why some post offices are closed during lunch time; and
whether any review has been conducted on whether such opening hours can meet the requirements of the public (including the business sector); if so, what the details are?

Public Officer to reply :

Secretary for Economic
Services

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

Will the Government inform this Council:

whether it knows the number of Hong Kong permanent residents who are now serving sentences of imprisonment in the Mainland, together with a breakdown of the offences involved and the sentences imposed;
of the kind of assistance it can provide to those Hong Kong permanent residents who are charged with criminal offences in the Mainland, whether such assistance includes legal assistance; and
whether Hong Kong permanent residents sentenced to imprisonment in the Mainland can apply for serving such sentences in Hong Kong; if not, whether the Government has discussed with the Central People*s Government the issue of transferring such persons back to Hong Kong to serve their sentences and if so, the progress of such discussion?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Security
9.Mr CHIM Pui-chung to ask :
(Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council whether it is aware:

that the T+2 settlement requirement stipulated by the Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited (HKSCC) will be amended in the light of actual needs, so as to enhance settlement efficiency and reduce risks in securities trading;
since the stocks sold by a stock broker on behalf of his clients are deposited at HKSCC, of the reasons for HKSCC still discounting the marks on the stocks before transferring the amount into the broker's account; and
if the HKSCC practice of discounting the marks on the stocks before transferring the amount into the broker's account will result in greater fluctuation in the stock market, and hence undermine Hong Kong's status as a financial centre?

Public Officer to reply :

Secretary for Financial
Services

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

Regarding the control of hazardous and contaminated wastes, will the Government inform this Council:

of the number of prosecutions instituted against illegal importers and exporters of wastes since the Waste Disposal (Amendment) Ordinance 1995 came into force in 1996, together with the number of prosecutions which resulted in convictions and the maximum fine imposed;
of the respective numbers of prosecutions which had resulted from detection by the Government and from reports by the public;
whether the Government will consider increasing the fines to bring them to the level equivalent to the profits derived from such activities;
whether the Government has launched publicity and educational programmes to enhance the public's (including the persons-in-charge and the employees of shipping companies and transport companies) knowledge about the impact of keeping hazardous and contaminated wastes; if not, why not;
whether the Government will set up a reporting hotline to enable the public to report such illegal activities; and
whether the Government has negotiated with the signatories to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, so that prosecution will be stepped up against exporters who illegally export hazardous wastes from the concerned countries to Hong Kong?

Public Officer to reply :

Secretary for Planning,
Environment and Lands

11. Mr Ambrose LAU to ask :(Translation)

It is reported that the Kowloon Motor Bus Company Limited, the China Motor Bus Company Limited and the Citybus Limited have submitted fare increase applications to the Transport Department. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether:

the three bus companies have improved the quality of their services over the past three years; if so, what improvements in service have been made by each of them; and
the improvement of service quality has been cited by any of the above bus companies as one of the justifications for increasing the fares?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Transport
12. Mrs Selina CHOW to ask :
(Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council:

whether, in the past three years, there were incidents involving aircrafts flying at too close a distance from each other within the territorial air space of Hong Kong, or incidents involving aircrafts climbing up again in the course of landing due to obstructions on the runway; if so, of the number, dates and course of events of such incidents;
whether such incidents are related to interference with frequency channels for radio communications; and
of the current situation regarding interference with radio communications between the Civil Aviation Department of Hong Kong and aircrafts in flight?

Public Officer to reply :

Secretary for Economic
Services

13. Dr TANG Siu-tong to ask : (Translation)

In some public housing estates in Hong Kong, the exits of their elevators are blocked with concrete on the floors on which the elevators do not stop, thus increasing the difficulties in rescue operations in case emergencies relating to the elevators occur. In this regard, will the Government inform this Council of:

the current number of public housing estates in Hong Kong which have the exits of their elevators blocked on the floors on which the elevators do not stop; and
the rescue methods used by the authorities in case of emergencies relating to these elevators?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Housing
14. Dr LAW Cheung-kwok to ask :
(Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council whether the People*s Liberation Army (including the garrison in Hong Kong) have used the facilities of the Hong Kong international airport; if so, whether they are required to pay any fees and the basis on which the fees are charged?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Economic Services

15.Mr CHIM Pui-chung to ask :

(Translation)

It is reported that the acoustics and sound insulating installation in the Court of Final Appeal (CFA) are in need of improvement and additional seats for staff are also required. As unsatisfactory facilities in the court will adversely affect the hearing process, will the Government inform this Council whether it will improve or replace those facilities?

Public Officer to reply :

Chief Secretary for
Administration

16. Mr YEUNG Yiu-chung to ask : (Translation)

It is reported that the Education Department has indicated that schools have the discretion to hoist or not to hoist the national flag on National Day, yet the internal guidelines it issued to government schools stipulated that they should make an application before hoisting the national flag. However, the principals of many government schools have said that they are not aware of the contents of the guidelines. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

whether the Education Department has issued any relevant internal guidelines and what their contents are;
if such guidelines were issued, why the principals of many government schools claimed they were not aware of them and their contents; and
how many government schools hoisted the national flag on National Day this year and how many did not, and the reasons for not hoisting the national flag?

Public Officer to reply :

Secretary for Education
and Manpower

17. Miss CHAN Yuen-han to ask : (Translation)

It is learnt that since August last year the Housing Department has suspended the arrangement under which Estate Assistants are entitled to redeem letters of assurance for re-allocation of public rental flats. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

of the number of public rental flats reserved in each of the past five years by the Housing Department for such officers; and whether this arrangement has affected the waiting time for allocation of public rental flats to the general public; if not, what the reasons are;
of the reasons for suspending the arrangement; and
of the Housing Department's future policy on the allocation of public rental flats to such officers?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Housing
18. Mr YEUNG Yiu-chung to ask :
(Translation)

Regarding the provision of more graduate teaching posts in primary schools, will the Government inform this Council:

as at end of August 1997, how graduate teaching posts are distributed in primary schools, and the total number of primary school teachers with such qualification;
of the estimated number of primary school teachers who will obtain such qualification within each of the next three years; and
of the specific measures in place for achieving the revised target of providing a 35% graduate teaching posts in all the primary teaching posts by the year 2001?

Public Officer to reply :

Secretary for Education
and Manpower

19. Mr Howard YOUNG to ask :

With regard to the recent incident of contaminated ice-cream bars, will the Government inform this Council:

of the success rate of recalling the product from the market;
whether the product was packaged in Hong Kong after importation or at source; and
whether ice-cream and fresh milk products are particularly susceptible to bacteria contamination; if so, whether a review of the existing procedures for inspecting such products is called for?

Public Officer to reply :

Secretary for Health
and Welfare

20. Mr HUI Yin-fat to ask : (Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council of the number of recipients of comprehensive social security assistance in each of the past seven financial years?

Public Officer to reply :

Secretary for Health
and Welfare

III. Members' Motions

Motion of Thanks

Dr C H LEONG :

That this Council thanks the Chief Executive for his address.

(Debate to be adjourned after Members have spoken. Resumption of debate will take place at the meeting to be held on 29 October 1997 when public officers will respond.)

Clerk to the Provisional Legislative Council