A 98/99-15(1)

Legislative Council

Agenda
Wednesday 11 November 1998 at 2:30 pm

I. Papers

Subsidiary Legislation L.N. No.
1. Registered Designs Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule) Regulation 1998340/98
2. Patents Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order 1998341/98
3. Trade Marks Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule) Order 1998 342/98
4. Specification of Public Offices343/98
5. Professional Accountants (Amendment) Bylaw 1998344/98
6. Practising Certificate (Solicitors) (Amendment) Rules 1998345/98


Sessional Paper

No.56-Hong Kong Tourist Association
Annual Report 97/98
(to be presented by Secretary for Economic Services)


II. Questions

1. Hon Edward HO to ask: (Translation)

Now that the Hong Kong International Airport has moved from Kowloon City District to Chek Lap Kok, will the Government inform this Council whether it will consider relaxing the plot ratio applicable to buildings in the Kowloon City District; if so, what the details are; if not, why not?

Public Officer to reply :Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands


2. Hon Andrew WONG to ask: (Translation)

With effect from this month, the Fire Services Department (FSD) has adopted the 12-minute response time as the performance target for emergency ambulance service, in place of the 10-minute travel time target adopted in 1986. However, the FSD indicated in 1996 that the average response time for emergency ambulance service was 11 minutes. On the other hand, a performance target of six-minute response time is still adopted for fire-engines. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
  1. of the measures in place to improve the response time of emergency ambulance service; and

  2. whether it has assessed if the revision of the performance target for emergency ambulance service makes the public feel that there is regression in terms of service standard?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Security

3. Hon Bernard CHAN to ask:

I have observed that, although some parking bays immediately adjacent to air-bridges are left idle, many aircrafts are directed to park at bays far away from the passenger terminal building, thus necessitating the use of airport buses to transfer passengers. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:
  1. how the Airport Authority allocates parking bays;

  2. the percentages of passengers who are transferred in airport buses; and

  3. if the Airport Authority has any plan to minimize the use of remote parking bays after the opening of the Northwest Concourse Extension?
Public Officer to reply: Secretary for Economic Services

4. Hon Cyd HO to ask: (Translation)

Regarding the provision of professional psychological counselling to primary and secondary school students in need, will the Government inform this Council:
  1. in respect of a student receiving such service, of the average number of and length of meetings that he and his parents have with counsellors each month at present;

  2. of the number of students who needed but did not receive psychological counselling in the past three years, together with the reasons for not providing them with such service; and

  3. whether there is any plan to increase the number of counsellors; if so, what the details are?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Education and Manpower

5. Hon CHAN Yuen-han to ask: (Translation)

Regarding the provision of passageways for physically handicapped persons, will the Government inform this Council:
  1. whether it has plans to carry out improvement works on pedestrian ways which do not have kerb ramps at present; if so, what the specific timetables are;

  2. whether it has plans to carry out improvement works on pedestrian footbridges, pedestrian subways and passages which do not have passageways for physically handicapped persons at present; and to install indication signs on those facilities on which improvement works cannot be carried out, or those which have passageways for physically handicapped persons on one side only; and

  3. in view of the fact that the relevant code of design practice which was implemented last year is not applicable to buildings which were completed before the code came into effect, whether the Administration will encourage owners of these buildings, through the provision of an allowance, to improve the facilities for physically handicapped persons at their buildings?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Transport

6. Hon CHAN Kwok-keung to ask: (Translation)

In relation to the occupational safety and health of employees of the hospitals under the Hospital Authority (HA), will the Government inform this Council:
  1. of the number of random inspections carried out by the Administration in the past two years in regard to HA's supervision of its hospitals in the compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Regulation; whether any prosecutions have been instituted in relation to cases of non-compliance; if so, of the number of these prosecutions;

  2. of the total amount of employees' compensation arising from injury at work and the total number of days of sick leave granted to the employees of these hospitals in the past two years; and

  3. whether it has assessed if the existing ward design and layout of the hospitals may constitute potential risk to employees involved in manual handling operations; and of the measures taken to reduce such risk?
Public Officer to reply:Secretary for Education and Manpower


*7. Hon LEE Cheuk-yan to ask: (Translation)

It is reported that there is an upward trend in the number of fraud cases in Hong Kong involving the trading of local London gold. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
  1. of the total number of complaints received over the past two years about fraudulent practices in the trading of local London gold, and the average amount of money involved in each case;

  2. whether any prosecutions have been instituted by the authorities in connection with these complaints; if so, of the number of such prosecutions and the average penalty imposed on the convicted persons; if not, why not; and

  3. whether it has plans to introduce legislation to step up the regulation of the trading activities of local London gold; if so, of the specific timetable for introducing such legislation; if not, why not?
Public Officer to reply: Secretary for Financial Services

*8. Hon CHOY So-yuk to ask: (Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council of the specific plan and timetable for the construction of Quarry Bay Park Phase II works, including the time for relocating the Urban Services Department's temporary vehicle depot which is currently occupying the site in question?

Public Officer to reply: Secretary for Home Affairs

*9. Hon James TIEN to ask:(Translation)

Regarding the "Closed Road Permits for Boundary Crossing Vehicles" issued by the Immigration Department, will the Government inform this Council:
  1. of the respective numbers of applications for the above Permits received and approved by the authorities in the past five years;

  2. of the average and the longest time taken for vetting and approving the above applications, and of the reasons for the relatively longer time taken for some of the applications; and

  3. of the measures in place to expedite the procedure for vetting and approving such applications?
Public Officer to reply: Secretary for Transport

*10. Hon Andrew CHENG to ask: (Translation)

In its Strategic Plan covering the period 1991-1995(the "Strategic Plan"), the Hong Kong Sports Development Board stated that, among the two types of National Sports Associations ("NSAs") registered respectively under the Societies Ordinance (Cap. 151) and the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32), it would prefer to provide funding for NSAs set up under the Companies Ordinance. In this regard, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:
  1. if the Board has provided funding in the past three years to the Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (the "ASFOC") which is registered under the Societies Ordinance; if so, of the amount allocated each year; if it has evaluated whether such funding was in line with the funding principles specified in the Strategic Plan of the Board; and

  2. if the ASFOC has transferred a sum in the amount of HK$30 million to a Trust Fund, with its Chairman at that time appointed as the Permanent Honorary President of the Fund; if so, whether the Hong Kong Sports Development Board has assessed if such arrangement made by the ASFOC was in line with the funding conditions and spirits which the Board adopted; if an assessment has not been made, what the reasons are?
Public Officer to reply :Secretary for Home Affairs

*11. Dr Hon HO Chung-tai to ask: (Translation)

At present, most of the food containers used for serving lunch ordered by whole-day primary school students through their schools are made of styrofoam. As styrofoam waste causes environmental pollution, will the Government inform this Council:
  1. whether it has estimated the amount of such styrofoam containers discarded by schools each year;

  2. whether it has estimated the average amount of such styrofoam containers to be discarded each year when whole-day primary schooling is fully implemented in the 2007-2008 academic year; and

  3. whether schools will be requested to encourage students and to require lunch suppliers to use environmentally-friendly food containers?
Public Officer to reply:Secretary for Education and Manpower

*12. Hon CHAN Kam-lam to ask: (Translation)

It was reported that the latest Human Development Report issued by the United Nations stated that the current illiteracy rate in Hong Kong has reached 8% and Hong Kong's ranking in the education index has dropped from 60 last year to 75. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
  1. whether it has conducted any statistical survey on the illiteracy rate in Hong Kong; if so, what the details are; if not, why not;

  2. whether it has examined the relationship between the illiteracy rate and the increase in the number of newly arrived residents; and whether it has any plans to offer appropriate education courses for those new arrivals who are of a relatively low education level; and

  3. of the specific plans to lower the illiteracy rate in Hong Kong?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Education and Manpower

*13. Hon LAU Wong-fat to ask: (Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council:
  1. of the number of cases in which approval has been given for changing the use of private land from agricultural to industrial;

  2. of the basis adopted by the Administration for determining the annual fee payable in respect of the land concerned after it has been changed to industrial use; and

  3. whether the level of fee payable in respect of such private land is on a par with the level of rent payable for the industrial land leased under short term tenancy; if so, the basis of determination by the Administration and whether the income receivable for agricultural use of the land should form a deducting factor in the fee calculating formula?


Public Officer to reply:Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands


*14. Hon LEUNG Yiu-chung to ask: (Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council:
  1. of the estimated number, by the types of diseases, of residents in the New Territory East and West regions who are suffering from chronic diseases and, among them, of the number who are staying in hospitals;

  2. how it is currently providing rehabilitation service to these people in these two regions; and whether the Administration has plans to set up community rehabilitation network centres for people suffering from chronic diseases in these two regions; and

  3. whether it knows the progress of the study undertaken by the Chinese University of Hong Kong commissioned by the Administration on current service and future developments of the community rehabilitation network in Hong Kong; and when the findings of the study will be published by the university?
Public Officer to reply: Secretary for Health and Welfare

*15. Hon LEE Wing-tat to ask: (Translation)

As the economy of Hong Kong has shown negative growth in each quarter this year and there is generally a fall in people's income, will the Government inform this Council whether, based on the housing demand model formulated by the inter-departmental Working Group on Housing Demand in January 1997, it has re-computed the housing demand of the public from now until 2005-06? If so, please give a breakdown of the figures by classifications of public and private housing and by different components as listed in the schedule.

Schedule to Question 15

ComponentsNumber of Households
(1998-99 - 2005-06)
TotalAnnual
Public HousingPrivate HousingTotalPublic HousingPrivate HousingTotal
(1) New Housing Demand





    (a) Marriages






    (b) Divorces






    (c) Legal Immigrants fromChina






    (d) Expatriates






    (e) Splitting of Existing Households






    (f) Inadequately Housed Households






    Sub-total






(2) Generated Housing Demand





    (a) Redevelopment of Public Rental Estates






    (b) Clearance of Temporary Housing Areas/Cottage Areas






    (c) Clearance of Squatters






    (d) Emergency/Natural Disaster and Compassionate Cases






    (e) Redevelopment of Private Properties






    Sub-total






(3) Adjustments of Housing Demand





    (a) Net Outflow of Hong Kong Residents






    (b) Dissolution of Households






    (c) Intersectoral Transfers of Adequately Housed Households






    (d) Double Counting






    Sub-total






Total Housing Demand ((1) + (2) + (3))





Total Flat Production Requirements







Public Officer to reply: Secretary for Housing

*16. Hon LAU Kong-wah to ask:(Translation)

Regarding the relief actions taken by the Government for the residents in Northern New Territories when flooding occurs, will the Government inform this Council:
  1. of the actions that will be taken by the Administration when it is anticipated that flooding will soon occur in Northern New Territories, as well as the actions that will be taken after the Hong Kong Observatory has issued flood announcements for areas in Northern New Territories; and

  2. whether regular reviews of the effectiveness of these actions have been conducted; if so, what the results of the reviews are?
Public Officer to reply: Secretary for Security

*17. Hon Christine LOH to ask:

Regarding the safety of children travelling in school private light buses (commonly known as "nanny vans"), will the Government inform this Council:
  1. of the maximum number of children passengers under the age of 6 allowed in a nanny van;

  2. of the total number of traffic accidents involving nanny vans without seat belts during the past five years, and of the respective numbers of children passengers who died or were injured in these traffic accidents; and of the prognosis of the seriously injured children who are still under medical care;

  3. whether it will consider stipulating that children passengers in nanny vans must wear seat belts; if not, why not, and whether the absence of escorts constitutes a major reason for not implementing that stipulation;

  4. whether it will consider stipulating that nanny vans must have an escort on board; if not, why not; and

  5. whether the rationale for the stipulation that school buses must have an escort on board is also applicable to nanny vans?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Transport

*18. Dr Hon David LI to ask:

Will the Government inform this Council whether, in order to increase its incomes and to avoid budget deficits in the next few years, it will consider selling or listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange some of its quality assets, such as the toll-tunnels, the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, the Mass Transit Railway Corporation, the Hongkong Post and the airport at Chek Lap Kok?

Public Officer to reply: Secretary for the Treasury

*19. Hon Fred LI to ask: (Translation)

In connection with adjustments to the best lending rate and the deposit rates offered by banks in Hong Kong, will the Government inform this Council:
  1. whether consideration will be given to removing the stipulation that the rates cap for bank deposits with a maturity or call period of less than seven days are to be determined by the Hong Kong Association of Banks in accordance with the Interest Rate Rules, so as to allow the relevant rates to be determined by the market; if so, of the specific timetable; if not, why not;

  2. whether any assessment has been made to determine if the current differential between the one-month interbank interest rate and the best lending rate is at a reasonable level;

  3. whether measures will be adopted to narrow down the current differential between the deposit rate and the lending rate to the 2% level which was the prevailing interest rate spread prior to the financial turmoil; if so, what the details are; if not, why not; and

  4. whether any assessment has been made as to the effects of the best lending rate on economic growth; if an assessment has been made, what the details are; if not, why not?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Financial Services

*20. Hon Eric LI to ask: (Translation)

Regarding the maintaining of law and order at Lo Wu Bridge, will the Government inform this Council:
  1. of the respective numbers of robbery, theft, indecent assault and affray cases which occurred last year at the section of Lo Wu Bridge within the jurisdiction of Hong Kong, and whether all such cases were dealt with in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong;

  2. of the measures in place to maintain law and order at the section of Lo Wu Bridge within the jurisdiction of Hong Kong; and

  3. whether it will discuss and work with the relevant Mainland departments to formulate measures to improve law and order along the entire Lo Wu Bridge?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Security

* For written reply.

III. Bills

First Reading

1. Adaptation of Laws (No.5) Bill 1998

2. Adaptation of Laws (No.4) Bill 1998

3. Adaptation of Laws (No.6) Bill 1998

4. Business Registration (Amendment) Bill 1998

5. Adaptation of Laws (No.3) Bill 1998

6. Marriage (Certificate of Absence of Marriage Record) Bill 1998

Second Reading (Debates to be adjourned)

1. Adaptation of Laws (No.5) Bill 1998 :Chief Secretary for Administration

2. Adaptation of Laws (No.4) Bill 1998 :Secretary for Justice

3. Adaptation of Laws (No.6) Bill 1998 :Secretary for the Treasury

4. Business Registration (Amendment) Bill 1998 :Secretary for the Treasury

5. Adaptation of Laws (No.3) Bill 1998 :Secretary for Security

6. Marriage (Certificate of Absence of Marriage Record) Bill 1998 :Secretary for Security


Second Reading (Debate to resume), Committee Stage and Third Reading

Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill 1998 : Secretary for Financial Services

IV. Members' Motions

1. Encouraging public utilities companies to reduce fees
Hon CHENG Kai-nam: (Translation)

That, in view of the current economic downturn in Hong Kong, the high unemployment rate, and the heavy burden on people's livelihood, this Council urges the Government to understand the public's sentiments and actively encourage public utilities companies providing transport, energy and other services to reduce their fees and to urge these companies not to lay off or reduce the salaries of their employees because of the fee reduction.

Amendment to Hon CHENG Kai-nam's motion

2. Hon James TIEN: (Translation)

To delete "understand the public's sentiments and actively encourage" and substitute with "discuss with the"; to delete "to reduce their fees" and substitute with "fee reductions that will not affect the companies' sound financial management,"; to add "to make every effort to avoid" after and to urge these companies"; to delete "not to lay" and substitute with "laying"; and to delete "reduce" and substitute with "reducing".

Public Officers to attend: Secretary for Transport

Secretary for Economic Services

2. Developing Hong Kong's tourism industry

Hon David CHU: (Translation)

That this Council urges the Government to expeditiously implement the various measures for developing Hong Kong's tourism industry vigorously and appoint a Commissioner for Tourism, and to ensure that the Commissioner is given the appropriate authority and resources to co-ordinate the work of all the relevant Government departments in facilitating tourism, so as to promote the development and enhance the long-term competitiveness of Hong Kong's tourism industry.

Amendment to Hon David CHU's motion
Hon Howard YOUNG: (Translation)

To delete "and" from "Hong Kong's tourism industry vigorously and", and to add after that ", including striving for the best terms for constructing and operating world-class theme parks in Hong Kong; in addition, the Government should expeditiously"; and to delete "to" from and to ensure that the Commissioner is given the appropriate authority".

Public Officer to attend: Secretary for Economic Services

Clerk to the Legislative Council