LC Paper No. CB(3) 454/98-99

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

MINUTES
No. 12
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 14 October 1998 at 2:30 pm

Members present:

President
The Hon Mrs Rita FAN, GBS, JP

The Hon Kenneth TING Woo-shou, JP
The Hon James TIEN Pei-chun, JP
The Hon David CHU Yu-lin
The Hon HO Sai-chu, JP
The Hon Cyd HO Sau-lan
The Hon Edward HO Sing-tin, JP
The Hon Michael HO Mun-ka
Dr the Hon Raymond HO Chung-tai, JP
The Hon LEE Wing-tat
The Hon Martin LEE Chu-ming, SC, JP
The Hon Eric LI Ka-cheung, JP
The Hon LEE Kai-ming, JP
The Hon Fred LI Wah-ming
Dr the Hon LUI Ming-wah, JP
The Hon NG Leung-sing
Prof the Hon NG Ching-fai
The Hon Margaret NG
The Hon Mrs Selina CHOW LIANG Shuk-yee, JP
The Hon Ronald ARCULLI, JP
The Hon MA Fung-kwok
The Hon James TO Kun-sun
The Hon CHEUNG Man-kwong
The Hon Ambrose CHEUNG Wing-sum, JP
The Hon HUI Cheung-ching
The Hon Christine LOH
The Hon CHAN Kwok-keung
The Hon CHAN Yuen-han
The Hon Bernard CHAN
The Hon CHAN Wing-chan
The Hon CHAN Kam-lam
Dr the Hon LEONG Che-hung, JP
The Hon Mrs Sophie LEUNG LAU Yau-fun, JP
The Hon LEUNG Yiu-chung
The Hon Gary CHENG Kai-nam
The Hon SIN Chung-kai
The Hon Andrew WONG Wang-fat, JP
Dr the Hon Philip WONG Yu-hong
The Hon WONG Yung-kan
The Hon Jasper TSANG Yok-sing, JP
Dr the Hon YEUNG Sum
The Hon YEUNG Yiu-chung
The Hon LAU Chin-shek, JP
The Hon LAU Kong-wah
The Hon LAU Wong-fat, GBS, JP
The Hon Mrs Miriam LAU Kin-yee, JP
The Hon Ambrose LAU Hon-chuen, JP
The Hon Emily LAU Wai-hing, JP
The Hon CHOY So-yuk
The Hon Andrew CHENG Kar-foo
The Hon SZETO Wah
The Hon Timothy FOK Tsun-ting, JP
The Hon LAW Chi-kwong, JP
The Hon TAM Yiu-chung, JP

Members absent:

The Hon Albert HO Chun-yan
The Hon LEE Cheuk-yan
Dr the Hon David LI Kwok-po, JP
The Hon Howard YOUNG, JP

Public officers attending:
The Honourable Mrs Anson CHAN, JP
The Chief Secretary for Administration

Mr Rafael HUI Si-yan, GBS, JP
The Financial Secretary

The Honourable Elsie LEUNG Oi-sie, JP
The Secretary for Justice

Mr Dominic WONG Shing-wah, JP
Secretary for Housing

Mrs Katherine FOK LO Shiu-ching, JP
Secretary for Health and Welfare

Mr Joseph WONG Wing-ping, GBS, JP
Secretary for Education and Manpower

Mr Bowen LEUNG Po-wing, JP
Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands

Mr KWONG Ki-chi, GBS, JP
Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting

Miss Denise YUE Chung-yee, JP
Secretary for the Treasury

Mr Stephen IP Shu-kwan, JP
Secretary for Economic Services

Mrs Regina IP LAU Suk-yee, JP
Secretary for Security

Mr Peter LO Yat-fai, JP
Secretary for Home Affairs
Clerks in attendance:
Mr Ricky FUNG Choi-cheung, JP,
Secretary General

Mr LAW Kam-sang, JP,
Deputy Secretary General

Mr Ray CHAN Yum-mou,
Assistant Secretary General (3)
Papers

The following papers were laid on the table pursuant to Rule 21(2) of the Rules of Procedure:

Subsidiary LegislationL.N. No.
1. Immigration (Places of Detention) (Amendment) Order 1998 324/98
2. Immigration Service (Designated Places) (Amendment) Order 1998325/98
3. Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Public Pleasure Grounds) (Amendment of Fourth Schedule) (No.4) Order 1998326/98


Sessional Papers

No.28-Construction Industry Training Authority
Annual Report 1997
No.29-Estate Agents Authority
Annual Report 1997/1998
No.30-Occupational Deafness Compensation Board
Annual Report 1997-98
No.31-Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health
Annual Report 1997-1998
No.32-Sewage Services Trading Fund
Annual Report 1997-1998
No.33-Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund
Annual Report 1997-98
No.34-Report of changes to the approved Estimates of Expenditure approved during the first quarter of 1998-99
Public Finance Ordinance : Section 8
No.35-Report by the Trustee of the Prisoners' Education Trust Fund for the period 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998
No.36-Hong Kong Sports Development Board
Annual Report 1997-98
No.37-The Provisional Legislative Council Commission
Annual Report 1997-1998
No.38-Companies Registry
Annual Report 1997-98


Questions

1. Hon CHAN Yuen-han asked Question 1.

The Secretary for Economic Services replied.

Four Members asked supplementaries. The Secretary for Economic Services and the Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.

2. Hon LAU Wong-fat asked Question 2.

The Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands replied.

Four Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands replied.

3. Hon LEUNG Yiu-chung asked Question 3.

The Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.

Four Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.

4. Hon YEUNG Yiu-chung asked Question 4.

The Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.

Six Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.

5. Dr Hon LUI Ming-wah asked Question 5.

The Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.

Eight Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.

6. Hon Fred LI asked Question 6.

The Secretary for Economic Services replied.

Six Members asked supplementaries. The Secretary for Economic Services and the Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting replied.

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

Bills

First Reading

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

The Bills were read the first time and ordered to be set down for Second Reading pursuant to Rule 53(3) of the Rules of Procedure.

Second Reading

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

The Secretary for Security moved the Second Reading and addressed the Council on each of the above two Bills..

Question on the Second Reading proposed. The President stated that in accordance with Rule 54(4) of the Rules of Procedure, the debates on the above Bills were adjourned and the Bills were referred to the House Committee.

Resumption of Second Reading debate

Fisheries Protection (Amendment) Bill 1998

The debate on the Second Reading which had been moved on 22 July 1998 resumed.

A Member spoke on the motion.

The Secretary for Economic Services replied.

Question on the Second Reading put and agreed to.

Bill read the second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Council.

Committee Stage

The Council went into Committee and considered the Fisheries Protection (Amendment) Bill 1998.

Question that clauses 1, 2 and 3 stand part of the Bill proposed, put and agreed to.

The Council then resumed.

Third Reading

The Secretary for Economic Services reported that
    the Fisheries Protection (Amendment) Bill 1998
    had passed through Committee without amendment. He moved that the Bill be read the third time and do pass.

    Question on the Third Reading proposed, put and agreed to.

    Bill read the third time and passed.
Members' Motions

Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance

Hon Andrew WONG moved the following resolution and addressed the Council:

Resolved that the Statutes of the University of Hong Kong (Amendment) Statutes 1998, published as Legal Notice No. 299 of 1998 and laid on the table of the Legislative Council on 9 September 1998, be amended by repealing section 3(a) and substituting -
    "(a) by repealing paragraph 1 and substituting -

    "1. Subject to the approval of the Council, on the recommendation of the relevant Board of Faculty and endorsed by the Senate, the Dean of each Faculty shall either be -

  1. elected, for a period of 3 years, by the members of the relevant Board of the Faculty, from among the teachers in the Faculty; or

  2. appointed by the Council, for such period as the Council shall determine.
A Dean shall be eligible for re-election or re-appointment.".".

Question on the resolution proposed.

A Member spoke on the resolution.

Hon Andrew WONG replied.

Question on the resolution put and agreed to.

Sustainable development in Hong Kong

Prof Hon NG Ching-fai moved the following motion and addressed the Council:

That this Council urges the Government, in formulating public policies and development plans in future, to adopt the concept of 'sustainable development' as the fundamental basis for its macro-policy, and thoroughly consider the impacts of various policies and plans on the natural and human environment, the neighbouring regions, and even the future of mankind.

Question on the motion proposed. The President stated that Hon Christine LOH had given notice to move an amendment to the motion. In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, the motion and the proposed amendment would be debated together in a joint debate.

Hon Christine LOH moved the following amendment to Prof Hon NG Ching-fai's motion and addressed the Council:

To add "and include in its policy commitments" after "and thoroughly consider"; and to add "; this Council also urges the Government to adopt a full set of indicators to measure the extent to which Hong Kong is moving towards sustainable development" after "and even the future of mankind".

Question on Hon Christine LOH's amendment to Prof Hon NG Ching-fai's motion proposed.

A Member spoke on the motion and the amendment.

At 4:57 pm, the President's Deputy took the chair during the temporary absence of the President.

Another 11 Members spoke on the motion and the amendment.

Prof Hon NG Ching-fai spoke on the amendment.

At 6:05 pm, the President resumed the chair.

The Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands spoke on the motion and the amendment.

Question on Hon Christine LOH's amendment to Prof Hon NG Ching-fai's motion put and agreed to.

Prof Hon NG Ching-fai replied.

Question on Prof Hon NG Ching-fai's motion as amended by Hon Christine LOH put and agreed to.

Rehousing all cage home lodgers and single persons
Hon LAU Chin-shek moved the following motion and addressed the Council:

That this Council urges the Government to review and formulate housing policies relating to cage home lodgers and single persons and set a timetable for rehousing all these people; in the interim, the Government should allocate more land in various urban districts for the construction of a sufficient number of singleton hostels and, at the same time, devise a comprehensive package of integrated services to cater for the housing, welfare and counselling needs of such people, so as to assist these cage home lodgers and single persons who are in the lowest social stratum in solving problems in their livelihood.

Question on the motion proposed.

12 Members and the Secretary for Home Affairs spoke on the motion.

Hon LAU Chin-shek replied.

Question on the motion put and agreed to.

Next Meeting

The President declared that the next meeting of the Council would be held on 21 October 1998 at 2:30 pm.

The Council was adjourned at 8:08 pm.

(Mrs Rita FAN)
President

Council Chamber
Hong Kong