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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 16 March 2011 7677 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 16 March 2011 The Council met at Eleven o'clock MEMBERS PRESENT: THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE JASPER TSANG YOK-SING, G.B.S., J.P. IR DR THE HONOURABLE RAYMOND HO CHUNG-TAI, S.B.S., S.B.ST.J., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEE CHEUK-YAN DR THE HONOURABLE DAVID LI KWOK-PO, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE FRED LI WAH-MING, S.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE MARGARET NG THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG MAN-KWONG THE HONOURABLE CHAN KAM-LAM, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS SOPHIE LEUNG LAU YAU-FUN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG YIU-CHUNG DR THE HONOURABLE PHILIP WONG YU-HONG, G.B.S. THE HONOURABLE WONG YUNG-KAN, S.B.S., J.P. 7678 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 16 March 2011 THE HONOURABLE LAU KONG-WAH, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU WONG-FAT, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MIRIAM LAU KIN-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE EMILY LAU WAI-HING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE ANDREW CHENG KAR-FOO THE HONOURABLE TIMOTHY FOK TSUN-TING, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TAM YIU-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ABRAHAM SHEK LAI-HIM, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LI FUNG-YING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE AUDREY EU YUET-MEE, S.C., J.P. THE HONOURABLE VINCENT FANG KANG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-HING, M.H. THE HONOURABLE LEE WING-TAT DR THE HONOURABLE JOSEPH LEE KOK-LONG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JEFFREY LAM KIN-FUNG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ANDREW LEUNG KWAN-YUEN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG HOK-MING, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG TING-KWONG, B.B.S., J.P. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 16 March 2011 7679 THE HONOURABLE CHIM PUI-CHUNG PROF THE HONOURABLE PATRICK LAU SAU-SHING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE KAM NAI-WAI, M.H. THE HONOURABLE STARRY LEE WAI-KING, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LAM TAI-FAI, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN HAK-KAN THE HONOURABLE PAUL CHAN MO-PO, M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN KIN-POR, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PRISCILLA LEUNG MEI-FUN DR THE HONOURABLE LEUNG KA-LAU THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG KWOK-CHE THE HONOURABLE WONG SING-CHI THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-KIN, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE IP WAI-MING, M.H. THE HONOURABLE IP KWOK-HIM, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS REGINA IP LAU SUK-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PAN PEY-CHYOU THE HONOURABLE PAUL TSE WAI-CHUN DR THE HONOURABLE SAMSON TAM WAI-HO, J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALAN LEONG KAH-KIT, S.C. 7680 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 16 March 2011 THE HONOURABLE LEUNG KWOK-HUNG THE HONOURABLE TANYA CHAN THE HONOURABLE ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP THE HONOURABLE WONG YUK-MAN MEMBERS ABSENT: THE HONOURABLE ALBERT HO CHUN-YAN THE HONOURABLE RONNY TONG KA-WAH, S.C. THE HONOURABLE CYD HO SAU-LAN PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING: THE HONOURABLE JOHN TSANG CHUN-WAH, G.B.M., J.P. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL SUEN MING-YEUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION THE HONOURABLE AMBROSE LEE SIU-KWONG, G.B.S., I.D.S.M., J.P. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY DR THE HONOURABLE YORK CHOW YAT-NGOK, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR FOOD AND HEALTH PROF THE HONOURABLE K C CHAN, S.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY THE HONOURABLE MRS CARRIE LAM CHENG YUET-NGOR, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 16 March 2011 7681 THE HONOURABLE EDWARD YAU TANG-WAH, J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THE HONOURABLE EVA CHENG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING THE HONOURABLE MRS RITA LAU NG WAI-LAN, J.P. SECRETARY FOR COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MS PAULINE NG MAN-WAH, SECRETARY GENERAL MRS CONSTANCE LI TSOI YEUK-LIN, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MRS PERCY MA, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL 7682 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 16 March 2011 OBITUARY TRIBUTE PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Will Members please remain standing to observe one minute's silence to mourn the victims of the earthquake and tsunami that occurred in Japan. (Members remained standing to pay obituary tribute) PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): End of the obituary tribute. TABLING OF PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table under Rule 21(2) of the Rules of Procedure: No. 77 ─ HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund Financial statements together with the Director of Audit's report for the year ended 31 August 2010 No. 78 ─ Research Endowment Fund Financial statements together with the Director of Audit's report for the year ended 31 August 2010 No. 79 ─ Report of changes made to the approved Estimates of Expenditure during the third quarter of 2010-11 Public Finance Ordinance: Section 8 No. 80 ─ Quality Education Fund Financial statements together with the Director of Audit's report for the year ended 31 August 2010 No. 81 ─ Education Development Fund Financial statements together with the Director of Audit's report for the year ended 31 August 2010 Report No. 16/10-11 of the House Committee on Consideration of Subsidiary Legislation and Other Instruments LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 16 March 2011 7683 QUESTIONS UNDER RULE 24(4) OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Members have expressed great concern about the incident of explosions and radiation leakage at a nuclear power plant triggered by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Mr Alan LEONG, Mr KAM Nai-wai and Mr Paul TSE respectively made requests to me to raise urgent questions that are closely related to this incident in this meeting today. In accordance with Rule 24(4) of the Rules of Procedure, I have granted their requests. In addition, in accordance with Rule 16(4) of the Rules of Procedure, I have also granted leave to Ms Miriam LAU to move a motion of adjournment after dealing with all the other items on the Agenda today for the purpose of debating the impact of the radiation leakage on Hong Kong. Safety of Food Products Imported from Japan 1. MR ALAN LEONG (in Cantonese): President, Japan experienced an earthquake of unprecedented magnitude, which also triggered a tsunami and a nuclear crisis. Here, I express my mourning of the deceased and my condolences to the stricken population. President, given that after the occurrence of the most serious earthquake ever recorded in Japan, there were successive explosions at the nuclear power plants in Fukushima, some members of the public in Hong Kong are worried that food products imported from Japan will be contaminated by radiation. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (a) of the types of food products currently imported into Hong Kong which come from areas that may be exposed to radiation and the quantities imported each day; (b) given that the Secretary for Food and Health indicated on 14 March that the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) had carried out tests on fresh food products imported from Japan, whether the authorities can clarify the criteria adopted at present in testing the level of radioactive contamination in Japanese food products, as well as the measures to be adopted by the authorities when some food products 7684 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 16 March 2011 are found to have a level of radioactive contamination exceeding the normal standard; and (c) given that the Secretary for Food and Health indicated on 14 March that he would closely monitor food products imported from Japan, such as details of their places of origin, the time of departure from the farms, and so on, regarding the importation procedures for the food products mentioned above, whether the authorities and the Japanese Government have established crisis management and reporting mechanisms, so as to obtain full information on the sources of food products imported into Hong Kong and prevent food products which have been contaminated by radiation from being imported into Hong Kong; if they have, of the details; if not, the channels through which the authorities will receive the relevant information? SECRETARY FOR FOOD AND HEALTH (in Cantonese): President, Japan has just suffered from the most serious earthquake ever recorded in the country and a series of explosions at the nuclear power plants in Fukushima. We feel sorry for the significant human loss and devastation caused. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government would like to offer our deep sympathy and regards to the people and Government of Japan at this difficult time. We are prepared to offer all necessary assistance when required. In Hong Kong, some members of the public are concerned that food products imported from Japan might have been contaminated by radiation. The Government is responsible for monitoring the food safety in Hong Kong and will release the results of our surveillance programme in a highly transparent manner so as to relieve public concern. Radioactive material can affect our body through three ways, including (a) direct radiation; (b) through skin contact with and breathing in the contaminated air; and (c) through consuming the contaminated food and water. If radioactive fission products are released into the atmosphere, some of the gaseous and volatile radioactive isotopes could be carried by wind. The invisible radioactive material would behave in a way similar to a plume or cloud LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 16 March 2011 7685 of smoke dispersing into the atmosphere, with some of its contents deposited onto the ground.