3 April 2019 8295
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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 3 April 2019 8295 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 3 April 2019 The Council met at thirty-one minutes past Eleven o'clock MEMBERS PRESENT: THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE ANDREW LEUNG KWAN-YUEN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN THE HONOURABLE LEUNG YIU-CHUNG THE HONOURABLE ABRAHAM SHEK LAI-HIM, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN, G.B.S., J.P. PROF THE HONOURABLE JOSEPH LEE KOK-LONG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JEFFREY LAM KIN-FUNG, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG TING-KWONG, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE STARRY LEE WAI-KING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN HAK-KAN, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN KIN-POR, G.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PRISCILLA LEUNG MEI-FUN, S.B.S., J.P. 8296 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 3 April 2019 THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-KIN, S.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 CLAUDIA MO THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL TIEN PUK-SUN, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE STEVEN HO CHUN-YIN, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE FRANKIE YICK CHI-MING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WU CHI-WAI, M.H. THE HONOURABLE YIU SI-WING, B.B.S. 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, B.B.S., 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, J.P. THE HONOURABLE DENNIS KWOK WING-HANG THE HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER CHEUNG WAH-FUNG, S.B.S., J.P. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 3 April 2019 8297 DR THE HONOURABLE FERNANDO CHEUNG CHIU-HUNG DR THE HONOURABLE HELENA WONG PIK-WAN THE HONOURABLE IP KIN-YUEN DR THE HONOURABLE ELIZABETH QUAT, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LIAO CHEUNG-KONG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE POON SIU-PING, B.B.S., M.H. DR THE HONOURABLE CHIANG LAI-WAN, S.B.S., J.P. IR DR THE HONOURABLE LO WAI-KWOK, S.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHUNG KWOK-PAN THE HONOURABLE ALVIN YEUNG THE HONOURABLE ANDREW WAN SIU-KIN THE HONOURABLE CHU HOI-DICK THE HONOURABLE JIMMY NG WING-KA, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE JUNIUS HO KWAN-YIU, J.P. THE HONOURABLE HO KAI-MING THE HONOURABLE LAM CHEUK-TING THE HONOURABLE HOLDEN CHOW HO-DING THE HONOURABLE SHIU KA-FAI THE HONOURABLE SHIU KA-CHUN 8298 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 3 April 2019 THE HONOURABLE WILSON OR CHONG-SHING, M.H. THE HONOURABLE YUNG HOI-YAN DR THE HONOURABLE PIERRE CHAN THE HONOURABLE CHAN CHUN-YING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE TANYA CHAN THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG KWOK-KWAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE HUI CHI-FUNG THE HONOURABLE LUK CHUNG-HUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU KWOK-FAN, M.H. THE HONOURABLE KENNETH LAU IP-KEUNG, B.B.S., M.H., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE CHENG CHUNG-TAI THE HONOURABLE KWONG CHUN-YU THE HONOURABLE JEREMY TAM MAN-HO THE HONOURABLE GARY FAN KWOK-WAI THE HONOURABLE AU NOK-HIN THE HONOURABLE VINCENT CHENG WING-SHUN, M.H. THE HONOURABLE TONY TSE WAI-CHUEN, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE CHAN HOI-YAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 3 April 2019 8299 MEMBER ABSENT: THE HONOURABLE LEUNG CHE-CHEUNG, S.B.S., M.H., J.P. PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING: THE HONOURABLE JAMES HENRY LAU JR., J.P. SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY DR THE HONOURABLE LAW CHI-KWONG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND WELFARE THE HONOURABLE JOSHUA LAW CHI-KONG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE THE HONOURABLE JOHN LEE KA-CHIU, S.B.S., P.D.S.M., J.P. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY THE HONOURABLE FRANK CHAN FAN, J.P. SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING PROF THE HONOURABLE SOPHIA CHAN SIU-CHEE, J.P. SECRETARY FOR FOOD AND HEALTH DR BERNARD CHAN PAK-LI, J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND SECRETARY FOR COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL WONG WAI-LUN, J.P. SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MR KENNETH CHEN WEI-ON, S.B.S., SECRETARY GENERAL 8300 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 3 April 2019 MISS ODELIA LEUNG HING-YEE, DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL MS DORA WAI, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MR MATTHEW LOO, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 3 April 2019 8301 PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Council now holds the regular meeting. PAPERS TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE COUNCIL The following papers were laid on the table under Rule 21(2) of the Rules of Procedure: Subsidiary Legislation/Instruments Legal Notice No. Insurance (Prescribed Fees) (Amendment) Regulation 2019 .................................................. 43 of 2019 Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Ships Operating in Polar Waters) Regulation ................................... 44 of 2019 Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) (Amendment) Regulation 2019 .......................... 45 of 2019 Merchant Shipping (Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk) (Amendment) Regulation 2019 .................................................. 46 of 2019 Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Sewage) (Amendment) Regulation 2019 ........... 47 of 2019 Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Garbage) (Amendment) Regulation 2019 .......... 48 of 2019 Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules 1 and 2) Notice 2019 ......................................................... 49 of 2019 Registration of Persons (Application for New Identity Cards) Order 2018 (Amendment) Order 2019 .... 50 of 2019 Solicitors (Professional Indemnity) (Amendment) Rules 2019 .......................................................... 51 of 2019 Solicitors (Professional Indemnity) (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 2019 .............................................. 52 of 2019 8302 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 3 April 2019 Other Papers Quality Education Fund Financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2018 (including Report of the Director of Audit) Education Development Fund Financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2018 (including Report of the Director of Audit) Report of the Bills Committee on Professional Accountants (Amendment) Bill 2018 ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Questions. First question. Remuneration packages for disciplined services staff 1. DR ELIZABETH QUAT (in Cantonese): President, some disciplined services staff have indicated that they have all along been dedicated to their work, making Hong Kong one of the safest cities in the world. However, the remuneration packages for disciplined services staff have not reasonably reflected their contributions, thereby undermining their morale and leading to talent wastage. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) given that while the work of the disciplined services is more dangerous than that of civilian staff, the pay difference between successive pay points on the General Disciplined Services (Rank and File) Pay Scale is only about 3%, whether the authorities will consider adjusting upward the pay difference between successive pay points on the pay scale to 6%, so as to make it on a par with that on the pay scale for civilian staff; if so, of the details and the timetable; if not, the reasons for that; LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 3 April 2019 8303 (2) given the manpower wastage problem currently faced by and the need to pass on experience in the disciplined services, whether the authorities will consider afresh offering disciplined services staff appointed before June 2000 the choice of extending their retirement age; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and (3) given the acute shortfall of departmental quarters for disciplined services at present, of the authorities' measures in place to mitigate the situation; whether they will identify land for constructing new quarters; if so, of the details and the timetable; if not, the reasons for that? SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE (in Cantonese): President, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government fully recognizes the efforts and contributions made by colleagues in the disciplined services all along in maintaining prosperity and stability of our society, and safeguarding the lives and property of our people. In order to attract suitable talents to join the disciplined services and to retain serving staff, the relevant government policy is to provide appropriate remuneration and support to the disciplined services. As it is not possible to find comparable posts and jobs in the private sector for the disciplined services, and individual disciplined services grades are also facing recruitment or retention difficulties, the Chief Executive-in-Council has decided to conduct a grade structure review ("GSR") for the disciplined services and once every 10 years in future, so as to ensure that the grade structure and remuneration of the disciplined services are effective in attracting and retaining talents. Moreover, having considered the operational need of each disciplined service, a total of over 7 100 posts have been created in the disciplined services over the past five years. We have also upgraded and strengthened the equipment for the disciplined services to enhance their service quality. In addition, we have introduced and enhanced a number of job-related allowances, improved housing benefits, and taken forward the construction projects of disciplined services quarters, etc. for the disciplined services. These are to ensure that their conditions of service and benefits can keep up with the times. In consultation with other relevant bureaux, my consolidated reply to various parts of the question is as follows: 8304 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 3 April 2019 (1) the pay scales applicable to the disciplined services have evolved over the years, like those applicable to other civil servants. The differences between pay points on each pay scale and between pay points among different pay scales reflect the cumulative results of the reviews conducted over different periods in the past.