A 99/00-32(1)

Legislative Council

Agenda

Wednesday 14 June 2000 at 2:30 pm


I. Tabling of Papers

Subsidiary Legislation / InstrumentsL.N. No.
1. Road Traffic (Traffic Control) (Designation of Prohibited and Restricted Zones) (Amendment) Notice 2000

 207/2000
2. Security and Guarding Services (Amendment) Ordinance 2000 (25 of 2000) (Commencement) Notice 2000

 208/2000
3. Security and Guarding Services (Fees) (Amendment) Regulation 2000 (L.N. 134 of 2000) (Commencement) Notice 2000

 209/2000
4. Security and Guarding Services (Licensing) (Amendment) Regulation 2000 (L.N. 135 of 2000) (Commencement) Notice 2000

 210/2000

Other Papers

1. Report of the Panel on Constitutional Affairs - Development of the political system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
(to be presented by Hon Andrew WONG, Chairman of the Panel)

2. Report of the Panel on Manpower 1999/2000
(to be presented by Hon LAU Chin-shek, Chairman of the Panel, who will address the Council)

3. Report of the Panel on Public Service 1999/2000
(to be presented by Hon TAM Yiu-chung, Chairman of the Panel, who will address the Council)

4. Report of the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services 1999/2000
(to be presented by Hon Margaret NG, Chairman of the Panel, who will address the Council)

5. Report of the Panel on Education 1999/2000
(to be presented by Hon YEUNG Yiu-chung, Chairman of the Panel, who will address the Council)

6. Report of the Panel on Trade and Industry 1999/2000
(to be presented by Hon CHAN Kam-lam, Chairman of the Panel, who will address the Council)

7. Report of the Panel on Economic Services 1999/2000
(to be presented by Hon James TIEN, Chairman of the Panel, who will address the Council)

8. Report of the Bills Committee on Buildings (Amendment) Bill 2000
(to be presented by Hon Edward HO, a Member of the Bills Committee)

9. Report of the Bills Committee on Family Status Discrimination (Amendment) Bill 2000
(to be presented by Dr Hon YEUNG Sum, Chairman of the Bills Committee)

10. Report of the Bills Committee on Entertainment Special Effects Bill
(to be presented by Hon Howard YOUNG, Chairman of the Bills Committee)

II. Questions

1. Hon FUNG Chi-kin to ask: (Translation)

Recently, a securities company provides brokerage-free Internet securities trading services to its new clients. The company is a registered securities dealer, but not an Exchange Participant of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

  1. whether the rules and regulations that should be observed by securities dealers who are not Exchange Participants and the level of supervision on them are the same as those for Exchange Participants; if not, of the reasons for that;

  2. given that investors involved in these brokerage-free Internet securities trading are not covered by the Unified Exchange Compensation Fund, how the authorities can ensure that these investors are properly protected; and

  3. whether it has assessed if these brokerage-free securities trading services will lead to vicious competition in the securities industry; if the assessment result is in the positive, of the measures it will adopt; if the result is in the negative, of the justifications for that?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Financial Services

2. Hon David CHU to ask: (Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council:

  1. of the respective daily numbers of franchised bus trips passing through Central during the morning and afternoon peak hours at present;

  2. of the respective numbers of passengers boarding or alighting in Central in respect of each such franchised bus during these hours on average; and

  3. whether too many franchised buses passing through Central is a major cause of the traffic congestion in the district during these hours; if so, of the corresponding measures it has put in place?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Transport

3. Hon LAW Chi-kwong to ask: (Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council whether:

  1. it has assessed the respective chances of explosion of vehicles fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas ("LPG vehicles") on fire themselves or caused by the spreading of fire from other vehicles inside various vehicle tunnel tubes;

  2. it has assessed if the means of escape inside various vehicle tunnels in Hong Kong are sufficient to cope with situations in which LPG vehicles are on fire inside the tunnel tubes; if they are assessed as sufficient, of the relevant details; if not, whether the relevant authorities have improvement plans; and

  3. the Fire Services Department and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department have planned to provide special training for all tunnel company staff and drivers of LPG vehicles to deal with incidents involving LPG vehicles inside the tunnel tubes; if they have, of the details?
Public Officers to reply: Secretary for Economic Services
Secretary for Transport
Secretary for Security

4. Hon CHEUNG Man-kwong to ask: (Translation)

Recently, officials of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have made some remarks in public, pointing out that the local media should not report views advocating the independence of Taiwan in the same way as ordinary news reporting, and cautioning local businessmen against doing business with Taiwan businessmen who advocate the independence of Taiwan, or they might run high risks. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it has assessed if these remarks have adverse impacts on the implementation of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong as well as on the confidence of the public and overseas investors; if they have, of its ways to tackle the problem?

Public Officers to reply: Secretary for Constitutional Affairs
Secretary for Trade and Industry

5. Hon Howard YOUNG to ask:

Will the Government inform this Council whether it will consider introducing legislation to completely ban smoking on board all incoming passenger flights?

Public Officers to reply: Secretary for Health and Welfare
Secretary for Economic Services

6. Dr Hon LUI Ming-wah to ask: (Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council of the respective percentages of each type of air pollutants from the following pollution sources, in the amount of that type of pollutants in the air of Hong Kong:

  1. emissions from buses, container trucks, goods vehicles, minibuses, taxis and private cars;

  2. gases emitted from industrial establishments in Hong Kong; and

  3. air pollutants from the Mainland?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for the Environment and Food

*7. Hon Kenneth TING to ask: (Translation)

Regarding the raising of funds by small and medium enterprises ("SMEs") through securing loans from financial institutions, will the Government inform this Council:

  1. given that the Special Finance Scheme for Small and Medium Enterprises ("SFS") has stopped accepting new applications since 8 April 2000, when the processing of the outstanding applications for credit guarantees under the SFS is expected to be completed; and whether it has assessed if it is easier now than during the period when the SFS was in place for SMEs to secure loans from financial institutions; if it has, of the relevant details; if not, whether such an assessment will be made; and

  2. whether it has assessed the adverse impact of the recent persistent rise in lending rates on the SMEs' opportunity to obtain loans from financial institutions?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Trade and Industry

*8. Hon Ambrose LAU to ask: (Translation)

According to the quarterly newsletter "I lens" published by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance last month, the general insurance industry registered poor performance in 1999. Total underwriting losses of the general business insurers for the year reached an unprecedented high level of HK$1,062 million, the worst year since the Insurance Authority started to collect statistics in 1990. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

  1. of the measures it will adopt to tackle individual insurance companies' deficiency in claims reserves; and

  2. whether it will adopt measures to prevent cut-throat competition in the insurance industry and the closures of small and medium insurance companies?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Financial Services

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

The Administration is studying viable means to replace diesel vans with petrol vehicles. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

  1. of the progress of the study and the estimated implementation timetable;

  2. whether it will consider providing the industry with financial assistance such as subsidies for purchasing petrol vehicles and petrol; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

  3. given that emissions of petrol vehicles contain carcinogenic substances such as benzene, whether it will consider studying instead the feasibility of replacing diesel vans with Liquidfied Petroleum Gas ("LPG") vehicles and launching a LPG van trial scheme; if not, of the reasons for that?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for the Environment and Food

*10. Dr Hon TANG Siu-tong to ask: (Translation)

Regarding the serious flooding in North Western New Territories on 14 April this year, will the Government inform this Council:

  1. of the monthly rainfall in North Western New Territories from March to June in each of the past five years;

  2. of the justifications for the Drainage Services Department ("DSD") allowing the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation ("KCRC") to carry out works on the West Rail in Tuen Mun Nullah, Hung Shui Kiu Channel and Yuen Long Nullahs during the dry season up till 20 April 2000; of the works requirements DSD imposed on KCRC and its contractors to prevent drain blockage and the measures in place to ensure compliance with these requirements; whether DSD has assessed the impact of the carrying out of the works during the rainy season on the draining capacity of the respective watercourses; if it has, of the details;

  3. of the time when DSD learned of the imminent severe rainstorms on 14 April; the corresponding measures taken by DSD to prevent West Rail works from causing adverse effects on the draining capacity of the relevant watercourses, as well as how DSD ensured implementation of these measures; and

  4. whether it will conduct an independent inquiry into the flooding incident on 14 April to determine the parties responsible for the flooding and assist the residents who have suffered losses in claiming compensation; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Works

*11. Hon YEUNG Yiu-chung to ask: (Translation)

In reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on 17 November last year, the Government stated that it hoped to achieve the target of having at least 60% of the teachers in each kindergarten to be Qualified Kindergarten Teachers ("QKTs") by September this year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:

  1. the current number of kindergartens which have achieved the aforesaid percentage target and its percentage in all kindergartens in Hong Kong;

  2. the number of kindergartens which have yet to achieve the percentage target and the average percentage of QKTs among all the teachers in those kindergartens; and

  3. the supply and demand of QKTs at present?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Education and Manpower

*12. Hon SIN Chung-kai to ask: (Translation)

Regarding the choice of Chinese character input methods, will the Government inform this Council whether:

  1. the Education Department has specified the Chinese character input method to be taught in information technology("IT")-related subjects in primary and secondary schools; if so, of the specified input method and the rationale for the choice; if not, the reasons for that, and whether it knows what the input method taught in most schools is;

  2. it knows which Chinese character input method is most commonly taught in IT-related courses funded by the Employees Retraining Board and run by training providers; of the criteria adopted for choosing the input method to be taught; and whether different input methods are available for trainees to choose; and

  3. government departments have specified the Chinese character input method in which applicants should be well-versed in order to meet the entry requirements for vacancies requiring Chinese character input skills?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Education and Manpower

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

It was reported that there had been delays in the rescue and evacuation operations in response to an incident on 29 May in which a private car caught fire inside a tube of the Cross Harbour Tunnel. Regarding the contingency arrangements for the outbreak of fires inside vehicle tunnels, will the Government inform this Council:

  1. of the details of the rescue and evacuation operations for that particular incident, including the respective response times of the tunnel company staff and firemen, and whether it has assessed if there are aspects which require improvements; if it has, of the details;

  2. whether the location of that incident is within the range of coverage of the closed circuit television ("CCTV") system of the tunnel company; whether it knows if the CCTV systems of other vehicle tunnels can cover the entire tubes; and whether it is necessary to extend the range of coverage of these CCTV systems; and

  3. whether the fire extinguishing installations inside various vehicle tunnels are sufficient to cope with various types of fires, including those caused by vehicles loaded with inflammable substances or fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Transport

*14. Hon Emily LAU to ask: (Translation)

Will the Executive Authorities inform this Council:

  1. if they have made a decision, or when they will make a decision, on whether or not to prosecute the operators of Gloria English Primary School and Kindergarten and Gloria Kindergarten (Norfolk Extension) for overcharging school fees in the 1997-98 school year; if they have decided not to prosecute, of the reasons for that;

  2. of the reasons for imposing a higher fine only, but not lengthening the term of imprisonment, for overcharging and over-enrolment by kindergartens, when they proposed amendments to the relevant legislation; and

  3. whether they will strengthen the monitoring efforts and adopt special measures to prevent overcharging of school fees and over-enrolment of pupils by kindergartens during the enrolment period in the next school year, and assist parents in obtaining information on the approved maximum numbers of kindergarten intake and fees?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Education and Manpower

*15. Hon FUNG Chi-kin to ask: (Translation)

In July 1998, the Government granted the former Tamar Site to the Hong Kong Tourist Association ("HKTA") on short-term lease to enable recreational, entertainment and tourism promotion activities to be held, as well as to provide parking facilities. It is a two-year lease at a rental of HK$1. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether:

  1. it knows the respective numbers of activities organized by HKTA and other commercial organizations as at the end of last month;

  2. it is aware of the criteria and procedure adopted by HKTA for processing applications by commercial organizations for holding tourism promotion activities at the Site;

  3. it is aware of the criteria adopted by HKTA for determining the costs to be paid by commercial organizations for renting the Site, and the amount of revenue received by HKTA thereon; and

  4. the authorities will continue to grant the Site to outside organizations on short-term leases for holding activities when the current lease expires; if so, of the criteria and procedure to be adopted in processing such applications, and of the rental level; if not, the reasons for that?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Economic Services

*16. Hon CHEUNG Man-kwong to ask: (Translation)

Regarding schooling of ethnic Nepalese children and youths, will the Government inform this Council:

  1. of the number of school-age ethnic Nepalese children and youths residing in Hong Kong, and the number of those who are Hong Kong permanent residents;

  2. of the current situation in respect of the education of these school-age persons in Hong Kong; and

  3. whether it has plans, through setting up schools or other measures, to provide opportunities for all school-age Nepalese persons to receive basic education; if not, of the reasons for that?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Education and Manpower

*17. Hon Ambrose LAU to ask: (Translation)

In the Policy Objectives of the 1999 Policy Address, the Administration undertook to revamp the Job Matching Programme, develop a dedicated system for the construction industry in the website of the Interactive Employment Service, and revamp the Careers Advisory Service of the Labour Department. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of the progress and achievements of the above initiatives?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Education and Manpower

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

Regarding the rationalization of franchised bus routes and bus stops to ease traffic congestion, will the Government inform this Council:

  1. of the bus routes involved in the rationalization of bus stops on Nathan Road in February and March this year and the effectiveness of the rationalization; whether it has plans to rationalize the bus stops on Nathan Road in respect of other routes;

  2. whether it has plans to rationalize the bus stops on other roads; if so, of the details and progress, and the criteria it will adopt to determine if rationalization of particular bus stops is required;

  3. of the roads on which the traffic congestion is caused by an excessive number of franchised buses passing through; whether it has plans to rationalize the bus routes concerned; and

  4. whether it will refrain from approving new bus routes passing through roads with heavy traffic?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Transport

*19. Hon Emily LAU to ask:

Under the educational voucher system, prospective tertiary students may freely choose the university to attend, and universities are required to collect educational vouchers from their respective students who have been issued with such vouchers by the relevant authority and exchange them for government subsidies, instead of being subsidized through direct funding. Regarding the feasibility of adopting such a system in Hong Kong, will the Executive Authorities inform this Council:

  1. whether they are considering adopting such a system;

  2. whether any study has been or is being conducted on the adoption of such a system in Hong Kong; if so, of the relevant details; and

  3. whether and when they will conduct the relevant public consultation?
Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Education and Manpower

*20. Hon Mrs Sophie LEUNG to ask: (Translation)

Will the Government inform this Council whether the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has taken measures and organized activities, through making use of the 1 350 parks and gardens under its management, to promote public understanding of and care for nature; if it has, of the details and the criteria adopted for assessing the effectiveness of such measures and activities; if it has not, the reasons for that?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Home Affairs

*For written reply.

III. Bills

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

1. Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2000 : Secretary for Justice

2. Buildings (Amendment) Bill 2000 : Secretary for Planning and Lands

3. Family Status Discrimination (Amendment) Bill 2000 : Secretary for Home Affairs

4. Entertainment Special Effects Bill : Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting

IV. Motions

1. Proposed resolution under the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance

Secretary for Transport to move the following motion:

RESOLVED that the North-west Railway (Amendment) Bylaw 2000, made by the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation on 12 May 2000, be approved.

(North-west Railway (Amendment) Bylaw 2000 has been issued on 25 May 2000 under LC Paper No. CB(3) 935/99-00)

2. Proposed resolution under the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance

Secretary for Transport to move the following motion:

RESOLVED that the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (Amendment) Bylaw 2000, made by the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation on 12 May 2000, be approved.

(Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (Amendment) Bylaw 2000 has been issued on 25 May 2000 under LC Paper No. CB(3) 935/99-00)

V. Members' Bills

First Reading

Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2000

Second Reading (Debate to be adjourned)

Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2000 : Dr Hon LEONG Che-hung
Public Officer to attend : Secretary for Health and Welfare

VI. Members' Motions

1. Proposed resolution under the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance

Hon LEE Cheuk-yan to move the following motion:

RESOLVED that, with effect from 16 June 2000, the First Schedule of the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance be amended, in Part V, by repealing "$100,000" and substituting "$150,000".

Public Officer to attend : Secretary for Education and Manpower

2. Development of the HKSAR's political system

Dr Hon LEONG Che-hung: (Translation)

That this Council urges the Government to consider the views expressed by Members of this Council on the "Report on the Development of the Political System of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" tabled by the Panel on Constitutional Affairs and related matters.

Public Officer to attend : Secretary for Constitutional Affairs

3. Health care reform consultation paper

Dr Hon LEONG Che-hung: (Translation)

That this Council expresses disappointment at the Administration's procrastination in coming up with concrete health care reform proposals for public consultation in spite of its repeated assurances, and urges the Administration to ensure that the proposed reform will provide the public with quality health care which is affordable, accessible and equitable, will be sustainable into the 21st century, and will facilitate professional development to meet the challenges of medical advances and societal needs.

Amendment to Dr Hon LEONG Che-hung's motion

Hon Michael HO: (Translation)

To add "; in order to achieve these objectives, this Council urges the Administration to include the following proposals in the health care reform consultation paper: (a) to collect information for examining the feasibility of implementing a central medical insurance system, but not recommending the implementation of any health care financing proposal that requires mandatory contribution of any kind at this stage; and (b) to set up a seed fund for implementing the health care reform, such as strengthening primary health care services, so as to improve the cost-effectiveness of the health care system" after "to meet the challenges of medical advances and societal needs".

Public Officer to attend : Secretary for Health and Welfare


Clerk to the Legislative Council