OFFICIAL RECORD of PROCEEDINGS Thursday, 22
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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 22 October 2015 393 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Thursday, 22 October 2015 The Council met at half-past Nine o'clock MEMBERS PRESENT: THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE JASPER TSANG YOK-SING, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALBERT HO CHUN-YAN THE HONOURABLE LEE CHEUK-YAN THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN THE HONOURABLE CHAN KAM-LAM, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG YIU-CHUNG THE HONOURABLE EMILY LAU WAI-HING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE TAM YIU-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ABRAHAM SHEK LAI-HIM, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-HING, B.B.S., M.H. PROF THE HONOURABLE JOSEPH LEE KOK-LONG, S.B.S., J.P., Ph.D., R.N. THE HONOURABLE JEFFREY LAM KIN-FUNG, G.B.S., J.P. 394 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 22 October 2015 THE HONOURABLE ANDREW LEUNG KWAN-YUEN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG TING-KWONG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CYD HO SAU-LAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE STARRY LEE WAI-KING, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LAM TAI-FAI, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN HAK-KAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN KIN-POR, B.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PRISCILLA LEUNG MEI-FUN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG KWOK-CHE THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-KIN, S.B.S. THE HONOURABLE IP KWOK-HIM, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS REGINA IP LAU SUK-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE PAUL TSE WAI-CHUN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALAN LEONG KAH-KIT, S.C. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG KWOK-HUNG THE HONOURABLE ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP THE HONOURABLE WONG YUK-MAN THE HONOURABLE CLAUDIA MO THE HONOURABLE JAMES TIEN PEI-CHUN, G.B.S., J.P. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 22 October 2015 395 THE HONOURABLE NG LEUNG-SING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE STEVEN HO CHUN-YIN, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE FRANKIE YICK CHI-MING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE WU CHI-WAI, M.H. THE HONOURABLE YIU SI-WING, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE GARY FAN KWOK-WAI THE HONOURABLE MA FUNG-KWOK, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHARLES PETER MOK, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN CHI-CHUEN THE HONOURABLE CHAN HAN-PAN, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE KENNETH CHAN KA-LOK THE HONOURABLE CHAN YUEN-HAN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG CHE-CHEUNG, B.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE KENNETH LEUNG THE HONOURABLE ALICE MAK MEI-KUEN, B.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE KWOK KA-KI THE HONOURABLE KWOK WAI-KEUNG THE HONOURABLE DENNIS KWOK THE HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER CHEUNG WAH-FUNG, S.B.S., J.P. 396 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 22 October 2015 DR THE HONOURABLE FERNANDO CHEUNG CHIU-HUNG THE HONOURABLE SIN CHUNG-KAI, S.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE HELENA WONG PIK-WAN THE HONOURABLE IP KIN-YUEN DR THE HONOURABLE ELIZABETH QUAT, J.P. THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LIAO CHEUNG-KONG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE POON SIU-PING, B.B.S., M.H. THE HONOURABLE TANG KA-PIU, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE CHIANG LAI-WAN, J.P. IR DR THE HONOURABLE LO WAI-KWOK, S.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHUNG KWOK-PAN THE HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER CHUNG SHU-KUN, B.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TONY TSE WAI-CHUEN, B.B.S. MEMBERS ABSENT: DR THE HONOURABLE LAU WONG-FAT, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE VINCENT FANG KANG, S.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LEUNG KA-LAU THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL TIEN PUK-SUN, B.B.S., J.P. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 22 October 2015 397 PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING: THE HONOURABLE MRS CARRIE LAM CHENG YUET-NGOR, G.B.S., J.P. THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION THE HONOURABLE JOHN TSANG CHUN-WAH, G.B.M., J.P. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE RIMSKY YUEN KWOK-KEUNG, S.C., J.P. THE SECRETARY FOR JUSTICE MR YAU SHING-MU, J.P. SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING THE HONOURABLE MATTHEW CHEUNG KIN-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND WELFARE PROF THE HONOURABLE K C CHAN, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY THE HONOURABLE GREGORY SO KAM-LEUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE HONOURABLE RAYMOND TAM CHI-YUEN, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AND MAINLAND AFFAIRS THE HONOURABLE LAI TUNG-KWOK, S.B.S., I.D.S.M., J.P. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY THE HONOURABLE EDDIE NG HAK-KIM, S.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION DR THE HONOURABLE KO WING-MAN, B.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR FOOD AND HEALTH THE HONOURABLE WONG KAM-SING, J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT 398 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 22 October 2015 MR ERIC MA SIU-CHEUNG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT THE HONOURABLE LAU KONG-WAH, J.P. SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS THE HONOURABLE CLEMENT CHEUNG WAN-CHING, J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE MR SHIU SIN-POR, S.B.S., J.P. HEAD, CENTRAL POLICY UNIT CLERK IN ATTENDANCE: MR KENNETH CHEN WEI-ON, S.B.S., SECRETARY GENERAL THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL UNDER RULE 8 OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE, AND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS PUT BY MEMBERS. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 22 October 2015 399 THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Members will please remain standing while the Chief Executive enters the Chamber. (While the Chief Executive was entering the Chamber and walking towards the rostrum, a number of Members, holding up placards and cardboards, entered the Chamber, shouting loudly as they walked on) PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Will Members entering the Chamber stop the hubbub immediately. (A number of Members returned to their seats and remained standing while holding up placards) PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Will Members please be seated. The Chief Executive will first address the Council. CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): President, Honourable Members and fellow Hong Kong citizens, I am glad to speak in this Council in this new Legislative Session and answer the questions Members put to me. Economic development is the foundation of a stable society and the basis to improve people's livelihood. Only when the economy flourishes and people and the Government have increasing incomes can livelihood be improved. It is particularly important to make greater efforts in respect of housing, poverty alleviation, elderly care, support for the disadvantaged and infrastructure development. In the past year, economic growth was moderate, inflation was under control and the unemployment rate was low. Young people had better employment opportunities for the first time; the number of people in employment had reached a record high and people's income had increased significantly. For 30% of full-time employees having the lowest incomes, their incomes increased 400 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 22 October 2015 by 7% to 8% from June to August this year as compared with the same period last year, and there was a 3% to 4% increase in real terms after deducting inflation. There was also an average 5.7% increase in the incomes of the total working population. It is worth noting that the Government received record revenue from profits tax and salaries tax in the past year, indicating a growth in corporate profits and people's earnings, as well as reflecting our economic environment. The current relatively favourable economic environment is the fruit of our concerted efforts and I hope we would keep up the hard work and cherish what we have achieved. On the housing front, the two-pronged approach of the current-term Government has gradually become effective. Apart from curbing external demands, investment demands and speculative demands through levying stamp duty, the SAR Government is of the view that the fundamental solution is to increase land supply significantly. Owing to the efforts made by the current-term Government to increase land supply three years ago, we now have a supply of new and relatively large number of residential flats. According to market data, the prices of first-hand and second-hand residential properties have started to come down. The Government has regularly published data on the supply of land and residential units for public reference. We will continue to embrace the challenges ahead and strive to alleviate and solve the housing problem. The Government will continue to vigorously open up and supply additional land, as well promote large-scale infrastructure developments, including the 150 sites to be made available over the next five years as announced in the 2014 Policy Address. The work to amend the statutory plans of about 40% of such sites has already begun and some sites have been set aside for housing development. The current-term Government is also determined to face up to the poverty problem, and a poverty line had been drawn as the basis for measuring the problem of poverty and formulating policies. The poverty situation in Hong Kong has continued to improve. In 2014, the poor population dropped to 960 000 and the poverty rate fell to 14.3%, both indicators were at six-year low. With the Government's policy intervention, 172 600 households were lifted out of poverty in 2014, and the poor population dropped below 1 million for the second LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 22 October 2015 401 year in a row, reflecting the considerable success of various poverty alleviation measures.