1 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL -- 6 May 1992 HONG
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1 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL -- 6 May 1992 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL -- 6 May 1992 1 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 6 May 1992 The Council met at half-past Two o'clock PRESENT THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE JOHN JOSEPH SWAINE, C.B.E., Q.C., J.P. THE CHIEF SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE SIR DAVID ROBERT FORD, K.B.E., L.V.O., J.P. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE NATHANIEL WILLIAM HAMISH MACLEOD, C.B.E., J.P. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE HONOURABLE JEREMY FELL MATHEWS, C.M.G., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALLEN LEE PENG-FEI, C.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS SELINA CHOW LIANG SHUK-YEE, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS RITA FAN HSU LAI-TAI, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE HUI YIN-FAT, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LEE CHU-MING, Q.C., J.P. THE HONOURABLE DAVID LI KWOK-PO, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE NGAI SHIU-KIT, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE PANG CHUN-HOI, M.B.E. THE HONOURABLE SZETO WAH THE HONOURABLE TAM YIU-CHUNG THE HONOURABLE ANDREW WONG WANG-FAT, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU WONG-FAT, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE EDWARD HO SING-TIN, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE RONALD JOSEPH ARCULLI, J.P. THE HONOURABLE MARTIN GILBERT BARROW, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS PEGGY LAM, M.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS MIRIAM LAU KIN-YEE, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU WAH-SUM, O.B.E., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LEONG CHE-HUNG THE HONOURABLE JAMES DAVID McGREGOR, O.B.E., I.S.O., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS ELSIE TU, C.B.E. THE HONOURABLE ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP PROF THE HONOURABLE EDWARD CHEN KWAN-YIU THE HONOURABLE VINCENT CHENG HOI-CHUEN THE HONOURABLE MOSES CHENG MO-CHI THE HONOURABLE MARVIN CHEUNG KIN-TUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG MAN-KWONG THE HONOURABLE CHIM PUI-CHUNG REV THE HONOURABLE FUNG CHI-WOOD THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE THE HONOURABLE TIMOTHY HA WING-HO, M.B.E., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE HUANG CHEN-YA THE HONOURABLE SIMON IP SIK-ON, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LAM KUI-CHUN DR THE HONOURABLE CONRAD LAM KUI-SHING THE HONOURABLE LAU CHIN-SHEK THE HONOURABLE MISS EMILY LAU WAI-HING THE HONOURABLE LEE WING-TAT THE HONOURABLE GILBERT LEUNG KAM-HO THE HONOURABLE ERIC LI KA-CHEUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE FRED LI WAH-MING THE HONOURALBE MAN SAI-CHEONG THE HONOURABLE STEVEN POON KWOK-LIM THE HONOURABLE HENRY TANG YING-YEN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE TIK CHI-YUEN THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN DR THE HONOURABLE SAMUEL WONG PING-WAI, M.B.E., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE YEUNG SUM THE HONOURABLE HOWARD YOUNG THE HONOURABLE ZACHARY WONG WAI-YIN ABSENT THE HONOURABLE STEPHEN CHEONG KAM-CHUEN, C.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE PETER WONG HONG-YUEN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL HO MUN-KA PROF THE HONOURABLE FELICE LIEH MAK, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE NG MING-YUM DR THE HONOURABLE PHILIP WONG YU-HONG IN ATTENDANCE THE HONOURABLE EDWARD BARRIE WIGGHAM, C.B.E., J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE MRS ANSON CHAN, C.B.E., J.P. SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES MR MICHAEL SUEN MING-YEUNG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS MR ALISTAIR PETER ASPREY, O.B.E., A.E., J.P. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY MR CHAU TAK-HAY, J.P. SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY MR JAMES SO YIU-CHO, O.B.E., J.P. SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE MR ANTHONY GORDON EASON, J.P. SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS DR LEE SHIU-HUNG, I.S.O., J.P. SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE THE CLERK TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MR LAW KAM-SANG Papers The following papers were laid on the table pursuant to Standing Order 14(2): Subject Subsidiary Legislation L.N. No. Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) (Amendment) Regulation 1992...................................... 112/92 Registration of Persons (Invalidation of Old Identity Cards) (No. 2) Order 1992............................... 116/92 Statutes of the University of Hong KonKongg (Amendment) (No. 2) Statutes 1992............................... 117/92 Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap. 354) (Commencement of Part IV and Sections 21(2), 22(2) and 36(2), (3), (4), (5) and (6)) Notice 1992................................................................ 118/92 Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation (L.N. 20 of 1992) (Commencement) Notice 1992................................................................ 119/92 Tax Reserve Certificates (Rat(Ratee of Interest) Notice 1992................................................................. 122/92 Sessional Paper 1991-92 No. 73 -- Report of Broadcasting Authority September 1990 - August 1991 Address Report of Broadcasting Authority September 1990 - August 1991 SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE: Mr Deputy President, I have much pleasure in laying the Broadcasting Authority's annual report for the year ending 31 August 1991 before the Council today. The broadcasting industry in Hong KoKongng has made rapid and significant developments during the period under report, bringing more choices and better quality services to the public. During this period, we witnessed the launching of a Hong Kong based pan-Asian satellite television service making a new era in our broadcasting development and the birth of a second local commercial radio station providing additional choices for listeners. On wireless television, the introduction of the multichannel sound television broadcast system, commonly known as NICAM, allows programmes to be broadcast with stereo effects and multilingual sound tracks, thus further improving the diversity and versatility of our television programmes. The Broadcasting Authority has played a significant role in all these developments in pursuit of its policy to improve the quality and quantity of broadcasting services for the Hong Kong audience. To monitor the quality of the services provided by our broadcasters, the Broadcasting Authority has set up a Complaints Committee to consider complaints on television and radio programmes, advertisements and technical issues. During the period under report, the Complaints Committee dealt with a total of 570 complaints. The Broadcasting Authority has also set up a working group to rrevieweview the codes of practice on programme, advertising and technical standards for wireless television and radio, to ensure that they reflect changing social needs and attitudes and fast developing technology. Major revisions made to the codes of practice during this period included the introduction of classified advertising, the requirement of impartiality in current affairs and documentary programmes, and the drawing up of performance specifications for multi-channel sound television broadcast. The working group also drew up a separate set of codes of practice on programme and advertising standards for the regulation of satellite television. The Authority is always mindful of the need to be in touch with the changing attitudes of the community in discharging its responsibilities. During this period, the Authority has commissioned an independent survey company to conduct a comprehensive television broadcasting survey. The results of the survey provided useful reference information especially in the processing of complaints and the review of the various codes of practice. In August last year, members of the Broadcasting Authority paid a visit to the United States and to Japan to meet the regulatory authorities and broadcasting organizations in those two countries. The visit proved useful and enabled the Authority to acquire first hand knowledge of the latest development in broadcasting technologies and to discuss common regulatory issues. Overall, the period under report has been a significant one in ouourr broadcasting development and a productive year for the Broadcasting Authority. Looking ahead, the Authority is actively involved in the current comprehensive television broadcasting review conducted by the Administration. The Authority hopes to see the review completed soon and action taken to license subscription television services for Hong Kong without delay in order to provide more television choice to viewers. Finally, I would like to thank members of the Broadcasting Authority under the capable leadership of its Chairman, Sir Roger LOBO, for their valuable contributions in both regulating the fast developing broadcasting industry and in advising the Administration in framing its broadcasting policy to cope with rapid changes in the industry. TThankhank you, Mr Deputy President. DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Before I proceed to questions I would ask Members please to put away those little models with flags on them because they do detract from the dignity of our proceedings. Would Members please put away those models and flags? Oral answers to questions Aircraft movement during curfew hours 1. MR MAN SAI-CHEONG asked (in Cantonese): Will the Government inform this Council: (a) under what circumstances the Civil Aviation Department will allow aircraft landing and taking off during the curfew hours of 12 mid-night to 6.30 am in the morning; and (b) with an expected increase in the volume of air traffic at Kai Tak before completion of the new airport, whether the Government expects an increase in the number of aircraft landing and taking off during curfew hours? What are the preventive measures and remedies to protect the residents in the densely populated areas in Hong Kong East, such as Shau Kei Wan, Heng Fa Chuen and Chai Wan, from being disturbed by noise nuisance? SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES: Mr Deputy President, the Civil Aviation (Aircraft Noise) (Limitation on Landing and Take off of Aircraft) Notice gazetted on 1 November 1989 under the Civil Aviation (Aircraft Noise) Ordinance (Cap 312) provides for various degrees of limitation on the landing and taking off of aircraft according to the time of night. Under the terms of this notice the airport is, for practical purposes, "closed" between the hours of 12 midnight and 6.30 am during which aircraft may not land or take off except with the specific permission of the Air Traffic Services Watch Supervisor.