LC Paper No. CB(3) 750/98-99

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

MINUTES
No. 17
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 25 November 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 HO Sai-chu, JP
The Hon Cyd HO Sau-lan
The Hon Edward HO Sing-tin, JP
The Hon Albert HO Chun-yan
The Hon Michael HO Mun-ka
Dr the Hon Raymond HO Chung-tai, JP
The Hon LEE Wing-tat
The Hon LEE Cheuk-yan
The Hon Martin LEE Chu-ming, SC, JP
The Hon Eric LI Ka-cheung, JP
The Hon LEE Kai-ming, JP
Dr the Hon David LI Kwok-po, 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
The Hon Howard YOUNG, 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
The Hon FUNG Chi-kin
Dr the Hon TANG Siu-tong, JP

Member absent:

The Hon David CHU Yu-lin

Public officers attending:

The Honourable Mrs Anson CHAN, JP

The Chief Secretary for Administration

The Honourable Donald TSANG Yam-kuen, JP

The Financial Secretary

The Honourable Elsie LEUNG Oi-sie, JP

The Secretary for Justice

Mr CHAU Tak-hay, JP

Secretary for Trade and Industry

Mr Dominic WONG Shing-wah, JP

Secretary for Housing

Mr Rafael HUI Si-yan, GBS, JP

Secretary for Financial Services

Mr Joseph WONG Wing-ping, GBS, JP

Secretary for Education and Manpower

Mr KWONG Ki-chi, GBS, JP

Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting

Miss Denise YUE Chung-yee, JP

Secretary for the Treasury

Mr LAM Woon-kwong, JP

Secretary for the Civil Service

Mr Patrick LAU Lai-chiu, JP

Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands

Clerks in attendance:

Mr Ricky FUNG Choi-cheung, JP,

Secretary General

Ms Pauline NG Man-wah,

Assistant Secretary General (1)

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 Legislation		L.N. No.
1.	Designation of Libraries (Urban Council Area) (No.4) Order 1998	354/98
2.	Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Public Pleasure Grounds) (Amendment of Fourth Schedule) (No.5) Order 1998	355/98
3.	Food Business (Urban Council) (Amendment) (No.2) Bylaw 1998	356/98
4.	Frozen Confections (Urban Council) (Amendment) Bylaw 1998	357/98
5.	Milk (Urban Council) (Amendment) Bylaw 1998	358/98

Questions

1. Hon CHAN Kam-lam asked Question 1.

The Secretary for the Civil Service replied.

11 Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for the Civil Service replied.

2. Hon CHOY So-yuk asked Question 2.

The Secretary for the Treasury replied.

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

3. Dr Hon LUI Ming-wah asked Question 3.

The Secretary for Trade and Industry replied.

Five Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Trade and Industry replied.

4. Hon Ambrose CHEUNG asked Question 4.

The Secretary for Housing replied.

Three Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Housing replied.

5. Hon CHAN Wing-chan asked Question 5.

The Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.

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

6. Hon YEUNG Yiu-chung asked Question 6.

The Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.

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

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

Bill

First Reading

Adaptation of Laws (No.9) Bill 1998

The Bill was 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 (No.9) Bill 1998

The Secretary for Financial Services moved the Second Reading and addressed the Council.

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

Members' Motions

Information technology strategy

Hon SIN Chung-kai moved the following motion and addressed the Council:

That this Council urges the Government to speed up the implementation of Digital 21 and to substantiate this information technology (IT) strategy with a comprehensive and integrated plan which should encompass participation of various Government bureaux, the business sector and the academia and put emphasis on education, training and promotion of IT literacy, with a view to transforming Hong Kong into a digital city; furthermore, the Government should ensure interoperability and interconnection of Hong Kong's IT infrastructure, protect intellectual property rights and encourage the private sector to take a lead in IT development by ensuring an open market and fair competition.

Question on Hon SIN Chung-kai's motion proposed.

The President stated that Hon YEUNG Yiu-chung would 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 YEUNG Yiu-chung moved the following amendment to Hon SIN Chung-kai's motion and addressed the Council:

To delete "speed up the implementation of" after "That this Council urges the Governmentto" and substitute with "set clear objectives for Hong Kong's information technology (IT) strategy, so that while Hong Kong is moving towards the era of"; to delete "and to substantiate this information technology (IT) strategy with a comprehensive and integrated plan which should encompass" after "Digital 21" and substitute with ", it is advantageously placed in the world of IT internationally and becomes an Asian hub for IT; in addition, the Government should take the lead in promoting IT applications and developments, encourage"; to delete "various Government bureaux," after "participation of"; to add "through the various Government bureaux," after "the business sector and the academia"; to delete ", with a view to transforming Hong Kong into a digital city" and substitute with "so that Hong Kong has an IT industry rooted locally"; to add "in providing supporting facilities," after "furthermore,"; to add "and its compatibility with IT systems around the world, introduce appropriate regulatory legislation" after "Hong Kong's IT infrastructure"; and to delete "encourage the private sector to take a lead in IT development by ensuring" and substitute with "maintain".

At 4:24 pm, the President's Deputy took the chair during the temporary absence of the President.

Question on Hon YEUNG Yiu-chung's amendment to Hon SIN Chung-kai's motion proposed.

12 Members spoke on the motion and the amendment.

Hon SIN Chung-kai spoke on the amendment.

The Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting spoke on the motion and the amendment.

At 5:50 pm, the President resumed the chair.

Question on Hon YEUNG Yiu-chung's amendment to Hon SIN Chung-kai's motion put.

Hon SIN Chung-kai claimed a division. The President then ordered the Council to divide under Rule 47(1) of the Rules of Procedure.

The President announced that among the Members returned by functional constituencies, 29 were present, 14 were in favour of the amendment, five against it and 10 abstained; while among the Members returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections and by the Election Committee, 29 were present, 12 were in favour of the amendment, 15 against it and one abstained. (Voting record in Appendix I.) Since the question was not agreed by a majority of each of the two groups of Members present, she declared that the amendment was negatived.

Hon SIN Chung-kai replied.

Question on Hon SIN Chung-kai's original motion put and agreed to.

Improving air quality

Hon Edward HO moved the following motion and addressed the Council:

That, in view of the seriousness of Hong Kong's air pollution problem whilst the Government's proposed scheme to replace diesel vehicles is progressing too slowly and not sufficiently comprehensive to safeguard public health, this Council urges the Government to expeditiously formulate long-term and comprehensive measures to improve the air quality, including offering adequate financial incentives to encourage the taxi trade to switch to the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) expeditiously; examining the feasibility of introducing LPG or other environment-friendly fuels for use by other types of vehicles; conducting researches on mechanical installations that can reduce exhaust emissions and enhancing vehicle maintenance standards; studying the feasibility of introducing pollution-free public transport; launching large scale tree-planting campaigns; making the reduction of demand for vehicular transportation a key town-planning consideration; and strengthening the co-operation with neighbouring regions in the Mainland with a view to alleviating the cross-border air pollution problems.

Question on Hon Edward HO's motion proposed.

The President stated that Hon Christine LOH would 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 Hon Edward HO's motion and addressed the Council:

To add "both short-term and" after "this Council urges the Government to expeditiously formulate"; to delete "and" after "long-term"; to add "introducing compulsory emission testing for all vehicles; substantially increasing the existing fine for smoky vehicles to encourage better maintenance; stepping up enforcement actions against smoky vehicles;" after "including"; to delete "and" from "and strengthening the co-operation with neighbouring regions"; and to add "; and vigorously pursuing demand-side management of electricity to reduce consumption of electricity from fossil-fuelled power stations" after "with a view to alleviating the cross-border air pollution problems".

Question on Hon Christine LOH's amendment to Hon Edward HO's motion proposed.

11 Members spoke on the motion and the amendment.

At 7:42 pm, the President's Deputy took the chair during the temporary absence of the President.

Another Member spoke on the motion and the amendment.

At 7:49 pm, the President resumed the chair.

Eight further Members spoke on the motion and the amendment.

Hon Edward HO spoke on the amendment.

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

Question on Hon Christine LOH's amendment to Hon Edward HO's motion put.

Hon Christine LOH claimed a division. The President then ordered the Council to divide under Rule 47(1) of the Rules of Procedure.

The President announced that among the Members returned by functional constituencies, 26 were present, five were in favour of the amendment, 16 against it and five abstained; while among the Members returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections and by the Election Committee, 27 were present, 13 were in favour of the amendment, 12 against it and one abstained. (Voting record in Appendix II.) Since the question was not agreed by a majority of each of the two groups of Members present, she declared that the amendment was negatived.

Hon Edward HO replied.

Question on Hon Edward HO's original motion put and agreed to.

Next Meeting

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

The Council was adjourned at 9:16 pm.


(Mrs Rita FAN)
President

Council Chamber
Hong Kong