LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 1987

OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Thursday, 26 November 2020

The Council met at half-past Ten o'clock

MEMBERS PRESENT:

THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE ANDREW LEUNG KWAN-YUEN, G.B.M., 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 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.

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 MICHAEL TIEN PUK-SUN, B.B.S., J.P.

1988 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020

THE HONOURABLE STEVEN HO CHUN-YIN, B.B.S.

THE HONOURABLE FRANKIE YICK CHI-MING, S.B.S., J.P.

THE HONOURABLE YIU SI-WING, B.B.S.

THE HONOURABLE MA FUNG-KWOK, G.B.S., J.P.

THE HONOURABLE CHAN HAN-PAN, B.B.S., J.P.

THE HONOURABLE LEUNG CHE-CHEUNG, S.B.S., M.H., J.P.

THE HONOURABLE ALICE MAK MEI-KUEN, B.B.S., J.P.

THE HONOURABLE KWOK WAI-KEUNG, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER CHEUNG WAH-FUNG, S.B.S., J.P.

THE HONOURABLE ELIZABETH QUAT, B.B.S., J.P.

THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LIAO CHEUNG-KONG, G.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 JIMMY NG WING-KA, B.B.S., J.P.

DR THE HONOURABLE JUNIUS HO KWAN-YIU, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE HOLDEN CHOW HO-DING

THE HONOURABLE SHIU KA-FAI, J.P.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 1989

THE HONOURABLE WILSON OR CHONG-SHING, M.H.

THE HONOURABLE YUNG HOI-YAN, J.P.

DR THE HONOURABLE PIERRE CHAN

THE HONOURABLE CHAN CHUN-YING, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG KWOK-KWAN, J.P.

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 VINCENT CHENG WING-SHUN, M.H., J.P.

THE HONOURABLE TONY TSE WAI-CHUEN, B.B.S., J.P.

MEMBERS ABSENT:

THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN

THE HONOURABLE LEUNG YIU-CHUNG

PROF THE HONOURABLE JOSEPH LEE KOK-LONG, S.B.S., J.P.

THE HONOURABLE WU CHI-WAI, M.H.

THE HONOURABLE CHARLES PETER MOK, J.P.

DR THE HONOURABLE FERNANDO CHEUNG CHIU-HUNG

DR THE HONOURABLE HELENA WONG PIK-WAN

1990 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020

THE HONOURABLE IP KIN-YUEN

THE HONOURABLE ANDREW WAN SIU-KIN

THE HONOURABLE LAM CHEUK-TING

THE HONOURABLE SHIU KA-CHUN

THE HONOURABLE KWONG CHUN-YU

THE HONOURABLE JEREMY TAM MAN-HO

PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING:

THE HONOURABLE MATTHEW CHEUNG KIN-CHUNG, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION

THE HONOURABLE PAUL CHAN MO-PO, G.B.M., G.B.S., M.H., J.P. FINANCIAL SECRETARY

THE HONOURABLE TERESA CHENG YEUK-WAH, G.B.S., S.C., J.P. SECRETARY FOR JUSTICE

THE HONOURABLE WONG KAM-SING, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

DR THE HONOURABLE LAW CHI-KWONG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND WELFARE

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

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 1991

THE HONOURABLE EDWARD YAU TANG-WAH, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL WONG WAI-LUN, J.P. SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT

THE HONOURABLE KEVIN YEUNG YUN-HUNG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION

THE HONOURABLE PATRICK NIP TAK-KUEN, J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE

THE HONOURABLE ALFRED SIT WING-HANG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

THE HONOURABLE ERICK TSANG KWOK-WAI, I.D.S.M., J.P. SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AND MAINLAND AFFAIRS

THE HONOURABLE CASPAR TSUI YING-WAI, J.P. SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS

THE HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER HUI CHING-YU, J.P. SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY

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 ON THE POLICY ADDRESS.

1992 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Members please remain standing while the Chief Executive enters the Chamber.

When the Chief Executive enters the Chamber, the "Request to speak" system will start immediately. Members who wish to ask questions in this Question and Answer Session need to press the button to indicate their wish.

(The Chief Executive entered the Chamber)

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): The Chief Executive will first address the Council.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): President, Honourable Members, good morning. Yesterday, in the Legislative Council, I delivered the Policy Address 2020 which is quite lengthy. So, I am grateful to Members for spending over two hours listening to my Policy Address. As I noted, many Members have stated their positions afterwards. I wish to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for their welcoming attitude and support. We have noted Members' advice to me that it is the implementation of the initiatives in the Policy Address that is the most important, and that they hope for expeditious implementation. Here I will give an undertaking that in the process of implementing each initiative in the Policy Address, we will keep listening to the views of the community, of course, including those of the Legislative Council Members.

Today, this is the first time for me to attend the Question and Answer Session of the Legislative Council again after January this year. I have some feelings about it and therefore wish to spend a little time to speak about the relationship between the executive and the legislature. In paragraph 12 of this year's Policy Address, I have expounded on the constitutional status of the Chief Executive under the design of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law: In addition to leading the executive authorities, the Chief Executive has specific roles and functions to play in respect of the exercise of powers and functions by the legislature and the judiciary of Hong Kong. This demonstrates the HKSAR's adherence to the executive-led structure under the core leadership of the Chief Executive, who is directly accountable to the Central People's Government. Under this framework, the powers of the executive authorities, the legislature and LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 1993 the judiciary are "individually positioned" with a division of work. There is no conflict between an executive-led system and an independent Judiciary, since one of the Chief Executive's duties is to uphold judicial independence which is protected under the Basic Law. Here, I can add a few words: The duties of the Chief Executive also include safeguarding the Legislative Council's power to exercise the function of monitoring the Government. Being the Chief Executive, I am duty-bound to safeguard Members' capabilities to exercise their powers and functions under the Basic Law, which include raising questions on the work of the SAR Government.

As I attach great importance to the executive-legislature relationship and really wish to facilitate the legislature to fulfil its constitutional responsibility to monitor the SAR Government, I am willing to come to the Legislative Council more often during the current term of the Legislative Council or my term of office. The merit of attending the Legislative Council is that the Chief Executive can understand Members' concerns first-hand, and be more effective in instructing various government departments and officials to respond to Members' questions and to assist Members in the scrutiny of bills or funding proposals introduced by the SAR Government.

In the past three-odd years, apart from following the convention of attending the Question and Answer Sessions of the Legislative Council every three months―which was around 90 minutes long just like today's, and back then, I attended 10 Question and Answer Sessions which similarly lasted 90 minutes―I also added the 30-minute Question Times which the President referred to as "short question, short answer" sessions, and so far, I have attended 14 Question Times. During these 10 Question and Answer Sessions and 14 Question Times, I responded to a total of 267 questions from Members, each of which would be revisited by me after the meeting to see whether any follow-up action would be required. Today, I would like to tell Members that I have heard the views expressed through these questions, and some of them have been incorporated into my policy initiatives, for example, the alignment of labour holidays with general holidays proposed by Mr POON Siu-ping; the shortage of venues for convention and exhibition industry mentioned by Mr Jimmy NG; financial development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area advocated by Mr Christopher CHEUNG; Ms Elizabeth QUAT's proposal to relax the application threshold for retrofitting lifts under the Universal Accessibility Programme; and Mr CHAN Hak-kan's proposal to subsidize owners of old buildings to carry out lift inspections. Actually, there are many more examples 1994 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 and, as Members can see in the previous Policy Addresses or Policy Address Supplements, these few examples that I cited have already translated into the policies of the SAR Government today.

Another type of questions raised by Members concerns some immediate issues. With the need to reflect public opinions and address people's most pressing needs, Members will raise questions during the Chief Executive's Question and Answer Sessions or Question Times immediately when they see problems in society, and we will address the problems immediately as well. For instance, in the year before last when I proposed in my Policy Address that the benefits of grass-roots workers employed under government outsourced contracts should be improved, Ms Alice MAK advised that at the implementation of this measure, we should backdate the improved benefits and remunerations to cover the grass-roots workers engaged under government contracts which had been tendered out and originally fell outside the applicable scope. This proposal was put into action right away back then. Dr Priscilla LEUNG requested that Mainland tour group members joining Victoria Harbour cruises should not be diverted to Hung Hom Ferry Pier so as to minimize the impact on the areas of Kowloon City and Hung Hom. The plan was thus shelved. Mr CHAN Kin-por offered to share with government officials his experience of asking and answering questions in the legislature―that actually means that our officials failed to do a good job in answering questions, so he wished to share his experience―then within the same month, we―actually within three weeks―already arranged for Mr CHAN to brief all Heads of Departments. Mr CHAN Chun-ying from the banking sector expressed his hope that we would allow post offices to launch cash withdrawal service for the elderly. Three months later, we launched the EPS EasyCash for Senior Citizens service at post offices in Hong Kong. All these are good examples showing that the executive-legislature relationship can be one of mutual checks and balances and cooperation which will enable solid work to be done for the public. I hope that the present situation and relationship will be able to continue into the future.

To show the benefits of my continuous performance of duties and consolidation of such executive-legislature relationship, I now put forward the proposal―if consent is given by the President―that I will resume the monthly 30-minute Question Time in the current term of the Legislative Council as soon as possible. The second proposal is that if the questions raised by individual Members during the Question Times and Question and Answer Sessions require the SAR Government to give further responses or to follow up, I undertake to LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 1995 submit my response within 30 days, and all the follow-up work will be carried out under the supervision of the Chief Executive's Office to ensure that everything will be followed through. Of course, I will also ask all Secretaries of Departments and Directors of Bureaux, as well as all principal officials to maintain regular communication with all Panel chairmen. The results of the discussions at the weekly regular meetings of the Chief Secretary for Administration, the House Committee Chairman and Deputy Chairman will also be shared to all Secretaries of Departments and Directors of Bureaux―including me myself―so that we will know whether the House Committee has any particular view or request in respect of the Government's work at present. Thank you, President.

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): The Chief Executive will answer questions from Members on the Policy Address. Members who wish to ask questions please press the "Request to speak" button.

After the Chief Executive has answered the question asked by a Member, the Member may forthwith ask a supplementary question on his/her question. As 34 Members have already pressed the "Request to speak" button, I call on Members to make good use of time to raise questions.

MR PAUL TSE (in Cantonese): Chief Executive, thank you for coming to this Council. This time, we can at least have an orderly and solemn exchange of views.

After some successful efforts, Chief Executive, I may need to change my way of asking questions. In respect of this Policy Address, all parties have gained something or the other. Of course, no matter how long the Policy Address is, it cannot satisfy everybody. However, we can obviously spot some omissions and those who are left out, and can say that there is a vision, but no immediate solution. The onslaught of the epidemic has resulted in an economic recession, and many measures would take some time to be implemented. As the saying goes, "distant water cannot put out a fire nearby", and this is especially so to those in the middle class, because many of them are not civil servants and thus cannot continue to get paid for working from home. In the face of the epidemic, small business operators are facing operational difficulties, while the situation of employees is even more miserable.

1996 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020

In terms of benevolent measures, I notice that the Chief Executive has undertaken a freeze on creating new directorate posts, which is a good deed. Another measure is withdrawing from the funds or what we call "taking money out of the bottom of the drawer". Admittedly, after three rounds of measures, not much money is available for the Government. When the Government also has to take money out of the bottom of the drawer and the funds―actually I have been asking to make use of the $130 billion from the Chinachem Charitable Foundation―even the Government has to resort to this, to say nothing of the employees, especially people from the middle class.

I have requested, on many occasions, for minor amendments to the Mandatory Provident Fund ("MPF") schemes so that citizens can save themselves with their own money. When the Government is unable to give out cash or handouts, citizens and employees, especially the middle class, will earnestly need to use their own money for immediate relief. I understand that the design of MPF, as explained by the Secretary, is for citizens to have a better life after retirement. However, Chief Executive, we have to overcome the current challenge first. Under the circumstances, will the Chief Executive consider allowing citizens to save themselves with their own money? What we need to do is very simple. We only need to adopt the negative vetting procedure with a minor amendment to the Ordinance. It is unnecessary to substantially amend the Ordinance, as the purpose is for citizens to tide over the current difficulty.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): It is not the first time Mr TSE has expressed this opinion. He also raised this suggestion in our several meetings. I understand what Mr TSE meant by "distant water cannot put out a fire nearby". Nevertheless, when we try to put out a fire nearby, we also have to consider the resultant long-term impact.

Fundamentally speaking, why do we need to make mandatory contributions in preparing for our own retirement? Because it is not possible that we can always plan well for everything on our own. Hence, back then, the Government introduced this MPF System, requiring contributions from both employers and employees with a view to saving for a rainy day, so that they can have certain protection after retirement. I also agree that this pillar of MPF cannot totally resolve all retirement problems, and thus over the past several years, the Government has done a great deal to the several pillars of retirement protection. However, if we take down this pillar at this moment, there will have significant implications. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 1997

Therefore, I hope that Mr TSE will understand that we should conduct a review on the areas where we can provide proper assistance. One example is our measure introduced yesterday. Since some people are in possession of certain commercial premises or old factory units, the abolition of the Doubled Ad Valorem Stamp Duty on non-residential property transactions can address people's liquidity needs to cope with current difficulties. At the end, our society also has a safety net, which is the social security scheme under the SAR Government. Besides, general employees, especially the middle class, may have taken out insurance policies. I suggested yesterday that the total cash value of insurance policies of CSSA applicants will be disregarded as assets for a period of time, and this is meant to provide assistance of various aspects to the people in need.

However, I am afraid that policywise, it will not be an appropriate approach in my view if each citizen is given the freedom and right to take out part of his accrued benefits from his MPF account.

MR PAUL TSE (in Cantonese): President, I have a very deep impression that during the Asian financial crisis, Korean citizens pawned or sold their jewelleries and rings for the sake of saving their government. When the citizens in a society or a country have faith in their government, why should that government be scared? When a government has faith in its citizens that they know how to save for a rainy day and how to make preparations for their retirement, why should that government be scared?

Chief Executive, I am not asking you to take down this pillar, but to slightly relax the restrictions for providing immediate relief to people. When the Government needs to take money out of the bottom of the drawer, and people from the business sector are also allowed, as just repeatedly mentioned by the Chief Executive, to sell their commercial premises in order to address their urgent liquidity needs, why does the Government not allow citizens to cope with their urgent needs and tide over the difficulties in these few months by taking some money out of the bottom of their own drawers?

1998 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): I have just explained our policy consideration. Hong Kong still has various kinds of support systems which can provide different support to those people facing critical situations like living a hand-to-mouth existence as mentioned by Mr TSE. In terms of mortgages or loans to the middle class, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority has some principal payment holiday arrangements, while we also have various schemes like Special 100% Loan Guarantee. Policywise, I am afraid that it is difficult for me to adopt such an immediate measure as proposed earlier by Mr TSE, because this will bring about very serious consequences.

MR VINCENT CHENG (in Cantonese): Chief Executive, hope you are well. First of all, I am grateful that you have already identified some land for the construction of 13 200 transitional housing units, and we wish that the scheme can be implemented and the units constructed as soon as possible. I also thank you for listening to our suggestion for making use of guesthouses and hotels as transitional housing on a trial basis. Mr YIU Si-wing and I have already arranged a meeting between the sector and the Bureau this week for communication and discussion, in the hope that this scheme can be implemented very soon, as we know that this proposal is very well received.

However, to the grass-roots households, especially residents of subdivided units, in order to address their urgent needs, apart from providing transitional housing, a better solution to their housing problem is the twin-track approach of providing rent allowance and imposing tenancy control of subdivided units. Since this Policy Address has already given a timetable on the provision of cash allowance, which is another form of rent allowance, can the Chief Executive also draw up a timetable for the imposition of tenancy control of subdivided units? Can the Chief Executive undertake here that in mid-2021, i.e. next year, a bill on the tenancy control of subdivided units will be introduced to the Legislative Council for scrutiny, so that the provision of rent allowance and tenancy control of subdivided units can be implemented at the same time with a view to providing immediate relief to the grass roots?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): President, I thank Mr CHENG for raising a question on transitional housing. First of all, the incorporation of transitional housing into the government policy starts with this term of Government. I believe Mr CHENG also remembers that we used to have reservations about LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 1999 adopting measures like the provision of temporary housing again. Hence, when I mentioned the part about housing in the Policy Address yesterday, I was a little subjective: I said that sometimes, the Chief Executive does not have the complete say. I also need to stand firm in the face of different opinions and break through some conventional lines of thought. Firstly, transitional housing will be introduced; secondly, tenancy control will be studied; and thirdly, those needy people who have been waiting for public rental housing for more than three years without being given any flat offer will be provided with cash allowance. Hence, there are already three examples of thinking out of the box in respect of such a single issue.

In fact, in the timetable provided yesterday, all the arrangements have already been moved ahead of schedule. In terms of cash allowance, we can start receiving applications in the middle of next year and give out the allowance in July. In other words, we will try our best to move the working schedule forward so that the cash allowance can be given out soon after receipt of application. Otherwise, the cash allowance will still have to be held up for a long time after receipt of application. Secondly, the work on tenancy control has also been expedited. The Task Force for the Study on Tenancy Control of Subdivided Units, chaired by Dr William LEUNG, strives to complete the study in the first quarter of next year and submit its report to the Government for consideration. Nevertheless, since the direction of control is still uncertain, it is difficult for me to undertake to introduce a bill to this Council two to three months after studying the report, because we really have to put efforts in drafting the bill and studying the issue. Anyway, I can tell Mr CHENG that we will certainly speed up our work, because I know that the provision of cash allowance―even though it is not called rent allowance―will also produce an incentive for landlords to increase rents. Therefore, adopting a twin-track approach in this aspect is a direction that I will insist and fight for.

MR VINCENT CHENG (in Cantonese): I thank the Chief Executive for listening to our views. I wish that a twin-track approach on rent allowance and tenancy control of subdivided units can be adopted, because many tenants are worried that their rents will be increased. I hope that the Chief Executive can pay attention to this situation.

2000 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Chief Executive, do you have any response?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): I have heard Mr CHENG's views.

MR YIU SI-WING (in Cantonese): Chief Executive, I would first of all like to thank you for providing financial relief to the tourism industry in the Policy Address this year, which has avoided waves of layoffs and business closures among travel agents whose business has been frozen for a prolonged period. However, the tourism industry will still be faced with the problem of a volatile epidemic situation and a long process of recovery in the days to come. The tourism industry involves hotel business, scenic spots, convention and exhibition businesses, cruise liners and airliness, etc., and there are quite a number of proposed infrastructural development plans relating to the industry in this year's Policy Address, including the Airport City Link project and the Invigorating Island South initiative. In view of the broad scope involved, there is a need for the Government to coordinate the efforts of various Policy Bureaux at a higher level, thereby jointly addressing issues concerning the future recovery and development of the tourism industry.

As I recall, the Chief Executive has indicated when she was running for her office that although she would not be able to establish a Tourism Bureau during her tenure, an inter-departmental committee would be set up to coordinate tourism-related initiatives. To my knowledge, meetings were also convened in this regard by the Financial Secretary a few years ago at the request of the Chief Executive, but given the future difficulties for the tourism industry, I would like to ask the Chief Executive: Whether she will undertake to reconsider the proposal she put forward when she ran for her office back in those years, and reactivate the plan to set up a cross-bureau coordination group to assist the revival of the tourism industry and help solve the problems in the future development of the industry?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): I thank Mr YIU for his suggestions. As a matter of fact, the tourism industry has been the hardest hit amid the outbreak of social unrest as well as the epidemic, and I am afraid that the situation will persist for quite some time. After very careful consideration, we will offer additional support to the industry although our relief measures are unsustainable after the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2001 three rounds of them under the Anti-epidemic Fund. I notice that Secretary YAU already announced the details yesterday, and he will make an explanation at the press meeting to be held later.

Much of what Mr YIU has mentioned concerns the outlook for the future and how we can make a better plan for the development of the tourism industry. There is a tourism perspective in many development plans proposed in the Policy Address, such as the West Kowloon Cultural District; the Invigorating Island South initiative; the harbourfront projects implemented on both sides of the Victoria Harbour; and even the development of two car parks for vehicles from Guangdong on the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities Island of the Hong Kong International Airport can bring about promising tourism opportunities. It is necessary to consolidate and rationalize such initiatives within the Government, and I am more than willing to take up the job myself. I have specifically indicated in the Policy Address that in my next visit to Beijing, I would secure a meeting with the new Minister of Culture and Tourism to enlist his continuous support for the tourism industry of Hong Kong, and to explore ways to enhance the quality of the industry. In order to prepare myself for the lobbying work in this respect to secure support from the Central Government, I do need to coordinate the ongoing work of various departments, and this is a promise I can make.

MR YIU SI-WING (in Cantonese): I thank the Chief Executive for giving us this promise. I wish to inform the Chief Executive that apart from the support given, members of the tourism industry and the general public are now most looking forward to the early resumption of travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland. President XI Jinping has recently proposed at the G20 Summit that in order to facilitate cross-border travel, more countries should be encouraged to take part in the establishment of an international mutual recognition mechanism for health codes, and the Chief Executive has also mentioned the health codes in the Policy Address this year. It can thus be seen that as epidemic has become a daily occurrence, mutual recognition of health codes is a feasible measure. I would like to ask the Chief Executive: Whether proactive discussions will be held with Guangdong Province with a view to laying down a set of basic criteria which are agreeable to both parties for cross-boundary travel, establishing a mutual recognition mechanism for health codes, promulgating expeditiously the criteria for compliance by all people, and formulating relevant measures at the same time for the early resumption of travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland?

2002 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): I thank Mr YIU for his question. I think this is the common aspiration of all Members, and we fully understand that in order to meet all of the requests raised by Mr YIU, we must resume cross-boundary travel, bring the epidemic under control, and facilitate travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland or overseas countries. As I have emphasized every time when I talked about the Policy Address, our first and foremost task is to strengthen epidemic control, thereby meeting the standards required for travel between Guangdong or overseas countries and Hong Kong. Fighting against the epidemic is the seventh area of work in which the Central Government has given its support to Hong Kong, and matters raised by Mr YIU just now have in fact been covered already.

First of all, travel between Guangdong and Hong Kong can be gradually resumed in an orderly manner through mutual recognition of health codes when the epidemic situation in Hong Kong stabilizes, and this has already satisfied our benchmark, i.e. we should first stabilize our epidemic situation. However, it does not mean that we cannot accept even one single case because as we all know, imported cases have been reported even in the Mainland, and there have also been sporadic local cases. We should therefore strive to strengthen epidemic control, but judging from the figures today, we can hardly claim that we have managed to do so.

Secondly, the mutual recognition of health codes, this is technically mature and readily available. We should even examine whether we should familiarize members of the public with the operational arrangements for obtaining a health code with a negative test result before the resumption of cross-boundary travel, and we will carry out the relevant work later. Our shortcoming now is our inability to bring the epidemic under control. To do this requires share responsibility as you have said just now―I remember that you seemed to have mentioned something like "shared responsibility".

All people must share the responsibility for stabilizing the epidemic situation together, and this includes exercise strict discipline. Despite an decreasing of confirmed cases, we should not forget the need to prevent and control the epidemic. Under this premise, all of us should pay close attention to personal health and hygiene measures, wear face masks, maintain social distance, avoid social gathering, and avoid too much physical contact. It seems that the current large-scale outbreak was caused by a violation of these precautionary measures, resulting in the highest number of people being infected. I hope LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2003

Members would make an appeal for the Government, and call upon members of the public not to let their guard down. In the absence of research and development for vaccines and their wide application, it will be very difficult to get rid of this virus, especially when we are now in a relatively critical period. As the situation is particularly dangerous in the winter season, I hope we will all stay vigilant.

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): I remind Members that they should only ask a brief supplementary question to follow up on the question they have raised, rather than asking a separate question. Will Members please follow past practice when they raise their questions.

MR MICHAEL TIEN (in Cantonese): Chief Executive, I would first of all like to say that the Policy Address you delivered has my support on the whole. Secondly, by mentioning the names of quite a number of Members just now, you said that you had already responded to their aspirations, and with regard to the suggestions I am going to make to you today, I hope you will also mention my name when you come to this Council next time, because this will imply that you have responded to my aspirations. I will not harm you, and I am confident that you will welcome my suggestions as they are very good to Hong Kong.

We all know that the epidemic has hindered many things, such as the health code system, cross-boundary travel, economic recovery, the availability of adequate reserves in public coffers for "handing out cash", so on and so forth. You told us that the inter-departmental Steering Committee cum Command Centre was led by you in person to cope with the situation, although I have originally thought that some other officers have been tasked with the work. According to many experts, our internal control has in fact been working pretty well on the whole, such as the arrangements for imposing the social gathering restrictions of four, six or two persons. However, a gap does exist and that is our airport.

Regarding the gap at the airport, many experts have explained that the problem mainly involves two aspects: firstly, the use of an inaccurate testing method; and secondly, the adoption of extremely lax measures to handle inbound travellers arriving from high-risk places. What is meant by adopting an inaccurate testing method? For cases using the saliva testing method, it was discovered earlier that the test results of four cases were positive after initial 2004 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 negative results. As we all know, many people simply do not know how to differentiate between a deep throat and a shallow throat saliva specimen, and by letting them collect their own specimen at a cubicle without supervision, there is no guarantee that the specimen submitted has in fact been duly taken. Moreover, although the testing method may work well for travellers arriving in Hong Kong in the morning, the test results for those arriving in the afternoon or evening may be inaccurate, because the accuracy of a test result will be affected if the traveller concerned has eaten something two hours before the specimen is taken. Hence, why not collect the combined nasal and throat swabs of travellers in Hong Kong International Airport for testing? This testing method was adopted for 1.7 million Hong Kong people previously, and it has also been used in the Mainland. I will be much more rest assured if this testing method can be used.

Secondly, with regard to travellers arriving from high-risk places, those who are tested positive will of course be sent to the hospital, but those who are tested negative will be allowed to stay in a hotel of their choice, and although they may be required to stay in a designated hotel in the future …

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Mr Michael TIEN, please raise your question.

MR MICHAEL TIEN (in Cantonese): Alright, I will raise my question, and will put forward my suggestions too. These travellers may infect other people when they go out to take public transport …

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Mr Michael TIEN, you are not supposed to deliver your policy address here. Please raise your question. (Laughter)

MR MICHAEL TIEN (in Cantonese): I just want to help the Chief Executive. Most importantly, I wonder if the Chief Executive is aware that as far as wristband activation is concerned, no time limit has been prescribed and they may choose to activate their wristbands one whole day later. During the interim, they can go visiting their relatives and friends, and even go shopping for their daily necessities in the next 14 days. My suggestions are very simple, and will you consider …

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2005

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Mr Michael TIEN, you have already spoken for three minutes, please raise your question directly. If you do not raise your question directly, I will call upon other Members to raise their questions.

MR MICHAEL TIEN (in Cantonese): Alright, every Member is given five minutes to raise a question, and I will reserve two minutes for the Chief Executive to reply. I would first of all like to ask her to adopt another testing method and standardize the methods used. Secondly, transportation must be provided by the Government to take all travellers arriving from high-risk places to designated hotels when they are tested negative. The authorities should also record the time of their arrival at such hotels and require them to activate their wristbands within half an hour. I am looking forward to a promise from the Chief Executive that watertight measures will be put in place at the airport, so that the place will no longer become a "doorless chicken coop".

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): Basically, we are actively examining the feasibility of both suggestions. The testing method of using deep throat saliva specimens was adopted earlier this year in response to an emergency incident for, as you may recall, testing the passengers of a cruise ship, and the decision was made after taking into account our testing capacity then. However, as of today, further improvements in this respect can be made, especially with the experience gained from the implementation of the Universal Community Testing Programme, as well as the availability of a large number of trained sample collectors.

In fact, as I have indicated yesterday or the day before yesterday, there are now three categories of people for testing. The first category refers to people who are subject to compulsory testing, such as members of the dance club cluster; the second category refers to people of targeted groups, such as employees of residential care homes for the elderly; while the third category refers to people who wish to undergo testing on a voluntary basis, although they present no symptoms at all. With regard to people in the first two categories, I have requested that their specimen should be taken by trained sample collectors, but for people in the third category, they should be prepared to submit a deep throat saliva specimen of a better quality for testing since they wish to know if they have been infected and have thus chosen to undergo testing on a voluntary basis, and so the testing method of using deep throat saliva specimens is still accepted 2006 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 for the time being. The Food and Health Bureau is studying the specific implementation details, but I do agree that improvements can be made in this respect, and there is also the need to make such improvements.

Inbound travellers arriving in the airport from high-risk places are now subject to more prevention and control measures than other travellers, but we agree that we should go one step further to take them to designated hotels, and discussions with the hotel sector are underway. If you have contacts with certain hotels like you said before, you can advise and encourage them to participate in our programme, so that we can rent an entire hotel for use as a designated hotel. With the availability of designated hotels, things will become very easy as far as the provision of transportation services is concerned, and we can simply pick travellers up at the airport and send them to designated hotels.

I will therefore put this on record, and when I make the same remarks as those given this morning next time, I will mention the name of Mr Michael TIEN. However, I am just kidding but Mr Michael TIEN, you have already caused harm to me by saying yesterday that the Policy Address this year was for seeking re-election. This has already caused harm to me, and I have no such intention.

MR MICHAEL TIEN (in Cantonese): Chief Executive, there is another loophole, and that is when the wristband is required to be activated, and you have not given a reply to this point. I wonder if you know that the existing arrangements for wristband activation are very laughable, and given that no one will follow up on the matter, the persons concerned can activate their wristbands one or even two days later. Can you undertake to tighten the arrangements for wristband activation, so that they will be required to activate their wristbands within one hour after arrival at designated hotels? They should not be given a chance to tour around Hong Kong before activating their wristbands, and can this be done?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): We have already assigned one of our colleagues to conduct an audit trail of the entire process from leaving the airport to completing all the necessary procedures, thereby examining every step involved and identifying room for further enhancement to plug any possible loopholes. We will also examine what you have mentioned.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2007

MR MICHAEL TIEN (in Cantonese): I will discuss the matter with you if you invite me to attend meetings held to discuss this issue.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): Alright, I will inform you of the progress within 30 days.

MR CHRISTOPHER CHEUNG (in Cantonese): Chief Executive, first of all, I wish to thank you for delivering a policy address which I consider audacious and comprehensive during this critical period as it covers all areas and strata. It is actually commendable for its rich contents and down-to-earth approach.

With regards to financial policies, I also wish to thank the Central Government for listening to the trade by expanding the mutual access between the Mainland and Hong Kong financial markets, and allowing the inclusion of the stocks of Hong Kong's biotechnology companies and those listed on the Mainland Sci-Tech Innovation Board into the mutual market access programmes. I also hope that the mutual access programmes will be extended to secondary listing China-concept stocks and other financial products in the near future with a view to consolidating and enhancing our status as an international financial centre.

Chief Executive, I wish to raise a question on the financial policy of the Greater Bay Area. You stressed in the media forum this morning that Hong Kong should not only focus on the Hong Kong market with a population of 7 million and you encouraged young people to expand their horizon and look to the Greater Bay Area market of 70 million people. I fully agree with her remarks. Actually, the Chief Executive should know that I have been endeavouring to help the securities industry to access the financial markets in the Greater Bay Area. The problem lies in the fact that our Government and the Mainland Government must first deal with certain complicated regulatory and interface issues.

Sometime earlier, the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong and I have proposed the idea of a unified pass permit, and hopefully the Government will deal with our aspirations with a new mindset. May I ask if the Chief Executive can pledge that she will endeavour to persuade the Central Government to allow Hong Kong's securities industry and young people to go north and promote our business in the Greater Bay Area. What I mean is that 2008 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 not only large scale financial institutions, but also small and medium securities firms should be able to explore the financial market with a population of 70 million.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): President, I wish to thank Mr CHEUNG for his question. The Central Government attaches great importance to Hong Kong's position as an international financial centre. In our capacity as an international financial centre, we provide the Central Government with a testing ground for the gradual reform and opening up of its financial market. Its gradual and orderly opening up is of course conducive to the development of Hong Kong's financial industry. During my Beijing trip this time around, I have also met with the Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission and his colleagues. He reiterated that they attached great importance to Hong Kong's position as an international financial centre. He denied market rumours that many opportunities had be given to Shanghai. He said that Hong Kong had its unique advantage to develop its financial industry. How everyone views the seven new directions of the financial industry? This in fact is a major policy direction. That is, we will increase the number of products under the mutual market access programmes. But the first batch of stocks to be included are those of pre-profit biotechnology companies and those listed on the Shanghai Sci-Tech Innovation Board. It means that the second, third and fourth batch of products will be included later on. But as at today, it is not convenient for me to make public of their names. But I can assure Mr CHEUNG that other products will be included in the mutual market access programmes later. However, we still need to act carefully as the financial markets are highly sensitive.

As to the access to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area for the financial professional service providers, professionals or enterprises, this is also the goal of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the only question is how it should be implemented. As far as industries are concerned, we have successfully obtained access for the construction sector to the Greater Bay Area through the 24 measures. Ir Dr LO Wai-kwok sitting next to you knows all the details. At present, any company on the list of registered contractors in Hong Kong may file a record with the Shenzhen authorities in Qianhai for doing business there. Therefore, we can extend the access to other professional service providers gradually. I especially note the proposal put forward by Mr CHEUNG that we should strive for a lower entry threshold for the market access of these LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2009 professional service providers so that not only big companies have access. That is, I will bear this in mind. In particular, we are having excellent cooperation with Guangdong Province as well as Shenzhen. During the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, Shenzhen was conferred a host of authorized items. Shenzhen is allowed to exercise greater flexibility in its cooperation with Hong Kong so as to enable market access of Hong Kong's professional service providers. I hope that we can inform Members of the sectors which will benefit from our efforts in this respect after a while.

MR CHRISTOPHER CHEUNG (in Cantonese): President, I wish to raise one more question.

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Mr Christopher CHEUNG, you may raise a supplementary question, but you may not raise another question.

MR KWOK WAI-KEUNG (in Cantonese): President, ever since the Long Term Housing Strategy ("LTHS") was launched in 2014, all the targets in LTHS were basically not met in each year. In the coming 5 years, that is, a 5-year period from the year 2020-2021 to 2024-2025, the housing supply target will be only be 95 000 units, which is only one third of LTHS's target. A lot of people in the neighbourhood will ask: What is the purpose of LTHS? Isn't it the means to force the Government to deliver on its housing pledge? Why were the targets in LTHS not met? At the same time, if we look at the Waiting List of applicants for public housing, the average waiting time is already 5.6 years. Therefore, based on the current pace of supply, it is very likely that the waiting time will increase to 6, 7 or even 8 years. Early this month at the meeting of the Panel on Housing, I asked whether if members should go to stage a petition at the Government Secretariat and show banners demanding that more land be found for building homes. Of course it was a joke. Very few members took note of me.

Yesterday, the Chief Executive finally said that the Government had identified 330 hectares of land for providing public housing units in the coming 10 years, therefore she had the confidence. But according to some media, some of the land will be available 10 years later. Chief Executive, I really want to 2010 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 know for sure that how to ensure that the 330 hectares of land identified will be made available in the coming 10 years for housing production so as to achieve the target of supplying an average of 30 000 units per year, in order to address the problems with long queuing time for public housing units, high rents for subdivided units in the private market and growing difficulties in finding accommodations? What will the relevant government departments do?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): This year's Policy Address talked more comprehensively about housing supply. We have not only mentioned that the targets in LTHS will be met, but we have also identified the land for building 316 000 public housing units. The fact that we have identified the sites means that these sites are available for building homes. We are not saying that we will identify one piece of land 10 years later. The land we have identified is available for housing production. If the land will be available 10 years later, it will be carried forward to the next 5-year period.

How can we guarantee that the sites identified can be used for housing construction as scheduled? That involves a host of factors. One of them is the procedure. For that reason, I proposed in this Policy Address that the policies are not only aiming at private development projects―although there are more measures targeting private development projects such as the establishment of the Development Projects Facilitation Office―as far as public-private partnership and turning "potential sites" into "disposed sites" are concerned, we need to resolve a host of procedural issues. There are supervisory issues, coordination among various government departments, and high-level intervention is required to resolve differences among various government departments. In that regard, we will enhance the supervisory capacity of the Development Bureau. The Secretary for Development will be authorized to handle all issues concerning home building matters outside the purview of the Development Bureau, including transport, leisure and cultural services, or certain government facilities under the purview of the Home Affairs Bureau or the Social Welfare Department. These should not hinder the process of making "potential sites" into "disposed sites" for Housing Authority ("HA") to build homes. This is our solution to the problem.

Moreover, I will personally supervise and monitor the whole process according to the home building timetable. I also hope that HA will urge the colleagues in the Housing Department to expedite the home building schedule. For example, concerning other government projects such as the projects relating LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2011 to the Science Park, the quarters for the disciplined services, we have boldly adopted the Modular Integrated Construction ("MiC") method. I hope HA will become more open-minded in the adoption of MiC. I know a project, a pilot scheme in Tung Chung, which is said to be a low-rise housing project, has already adopted MiC in its construction. The adoption of MiC will speed up the housing supply.

MR KWOK WAI-KEUNG (in Cantonese): Just now the Chief Executive responded that she would instruct all relevant government departments to make greater efforts in this respect. My supplementary question is very simple, when will the target of 300 000 housing units in 10 years, i.e. 30 000 units per year, be achieved?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): I am afraid that there are things behind schedule due to many factors. For that reason, the pledge of 316 000 public housing units in the coming10 years does not mean that we can come up with an evenly distributed annual average production. Perhaps we will see a shortfall in supply in some years, particularly the years immediately ahead. But I can assure Mr KWOK that we will try our best to make up for the shortfall once we have secured the sites. In so doing, we can speed up the home building process.

MR TOMMY CHEUNG (in Cantonese): President, Chief Executive, just now, a Member described the Policy Address as having a vision but not long-term planning … or having long-term planning but not a vision, I may have heard it wrongly. However, I wish to say that the Policy Address actually has both a vision and long-term planning. It can immediately achieve some small programmes, such as the Pilot Public-Private Partnership Programme, which seeks to help patients with diabetes or hypertension.

Talking about healthcare issues, I wish to ask the Chief Executive a question. Just now, a Member said "distant water would not put out a fire nearby". I feel the same here. In 2017, there were only 1.9 doctors for every 1 000 persons in Hong Kong. This ratio is lower than the ratios in many advanced or developed regions. We need to have an additional 3 400 doctors in Hong Kong to catch up with the patient-doctor ratio in Singapore, which has 2.4 doctors for every 1 000 persons. A shortage of doctors will affect patients. In 2012 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020

Hong Kong, people who need urgent medical attention and are classified having an urgent medical condition at the Accident and Emergency Departments have to wait 114 minutes for treatment. This is more than twice the time people in Singapore have to wait. As for specialist services, 10% of the new patients seeking orthopaedic or ophthalmic services have waited for two years for their first appointment.

In 2019-2020, $80.6 billion was earmarked for recurrent public healthcare expenditure … Actually, the Chief Executive has been giving them additional money every year … accounting for 18.3% of the total recurrent expenditure. Given that the Government has spent so much money on the healthcare portfolio, why is it unable to solve the problem? Last week, this Council passed the motion on "Formulating a new mechanism for importing non-locally trained doctors" moved by the Liberal Party, with 37 Members voting for and two voted against the motion and one abstained. The motion proposes that a new mechanism be formulated for the Government to make flexible adjustments, such that in times of insufficient local healthcare personnel, the mechanism can be relaxed to import qualified professional doctors overseas, and in times of adequate local doctors being trained, the mechanism can be tightened to safeguard the interests of local doctors. This is surely a flexible approach. Chief Executive, when will the Government adopt a more proactive attitude to accord priority to the interests of patients and refuse to let the protectionist Medical Council of Hong Kong and the doctors disregard the needs of the community as a whole?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): President, I thank Mr CHEUNG for his question. Last week, the Legislative Council overwhelmingly passed a non-binding motion to request the SAR Government to deal with the import of overseas doctors. We will proactively and seriously look into the issue.

My stand is clear. Members can refer to the speeches I made at the two medical schools in Hong Kong when I was the Chief Secretary for Administration. That is, at a graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong and a medical professional conference of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, I expressed my support for relaxing the restriction on allowing non-locally trained doctors to come back to practise in Hong Kong. So, my stand is the same as that of Members. However, we have encountered great difficulties in implementation. Members should still LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2013 remember that the filibustering of one Member had made it impossible for us to proceed with the related work. So, when this issue is brought onto the Agenda again, I truly hope that … because Members only have eight to nine months left in their term and 10-odd months left in mine … I hope that the Government can thoroughly deal with this problem for the well-being of the people.

However, I do not want to trigger another clash with doctors. Can we sit down and discuss under what conditions we can relax the restriction to allow non-locally trained doctors to practise in Hong Kong? For instance, someone has proposed that … I seem to have mentioned this to Mr Tommy CHUENG before … Hong Kong people who are trained and practising overseas should be allowed to come back first. I do not see why we should not allow, say, a 40-odd years old specialist doctor who wants to come back to practise medicine and visit his parents here to come back to Hong Kong. They are all sons and daughters of Hong Kong.

So, I think we can talk this out. I truly hope that we can have a discussion to find a mutually acceptable option, so as to allow some non-locally trained doctors who are Hong Kong residents or the second generation of Hong Kong residents to come back. It is because we already have admission schemes in place to facilitate the return of the second or third generation of Hong Kong permanent residents for employment. They do not need to immediately find a job here and they can come back first.

To show the importance of the matter, I cite an example for Members. I am very concerned about pre-school children with special education needs, such as children with autism or other forms of developmental retardation. Over the past few years, I have spent a lot of energy and resources on increasing the places of the On-site Pre-school Rehabilitation Service. Under the scheme, a team of specialists will be arranged to provide on-site services for kindergarten children who have been assessed for their service needs. There are 8 000 service places this year. The places have been increased from 1 000 to 3 000 and then further increased to 8 000 this year; and the places will be further increased to 10 000 in two years' time because I have undertaken that there will be zero waiting time.

It is very important that children aged two to three are given services at this golden period. But the bottleneck now lies in the availability of doctors. It is because children with special needs who wish to apply for a service provided by the Social Welfare Department are required to be assessed by the Child Assessment Service provided by the Department of Health to confirm their need 2014 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 for the service. The bottleneck is here because the Department of Health is unable to recruit paediatric specialists. But I am very confident that … because I also have friends who are doctors … if we allow Hong Kong residents who are working as paediatric specialists overseas to return, we should be able to recruit these doctors. No matter they are from the United States, United Kingdom or Australia, they can all come back.

So, I sincerely urge here that … I know that what I said just now will infuriate people from the medical sector. They may issue a statement to condemn me later. But still, I must say that I cannot bear to see these children being deprived of the service, which is already available to them, just because they are not yet assessed. Actually, I have already kick-started some work. I launched a 20-month pilot scheme to arrange these on-site services for kindergartens. If the specialist team identifies any children by observation that they may have a little developmental retardation, the team will provide services to these children, although they are not yet assessed. However, this is not a desirable approach because in the absence of assessment, we do not know which aspects of the children need intervention and support.

So, my stand is the same as that of the Members who have supported the non-binding motion. And I have the determination to do it. This is a battle we need to fight, but I hope that it will be a peaceful battle, or a war without gunpowder. This will depend on how members of the medical sector will handle this matter.

MR TOMMY CHEUNG (in Cantonese): President, the Chief Executive has not answered my question. Will she immediately formulate some new mechanisms or introduce a new piece of legislation to import overseas doctors?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): I am very willing to look into a mechanism that can convince the medical sector so that they are more receptive to the relaxation. I will not close the door to any proposals.

MR CHAN HAN-PAN (in Cantonese): Chief Executive, your Policy Address has outlined many wonderful visions, including the one about the Greater Bay Area. But, at the end of the day, a vision is only a vision. If we are unable to reach "zero infection" in Hong Kong, it is very difficult to embark on these LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2015 endeavours because many sectors will find it hard to remain viable or survive before the boundary reopens. For instance, the cross-boundary goods transport industry has been hard hit by the boundary closure since a year ago. The Chief Executive proposes in the Policy Address to use $600 million to assist the tourism industry. But in fact, the money cannot help them. They have sought help from the Government, but the Government has not quite responded to their requests. Given that boundary reopen is still a distant hope, how are they going to remain viable? The only solution is to stringently control the epidemic in Hong Kong. That is why people have been asking the Government to implement more stringent measures to contain the epidemic. We have asked for a universal virus test, but the Government is noncommittal about the idea. When it comes to the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app, the Government again remains noncommittal about its compulsory usage. And inbound travellers are allowed to freely choose their means of public transport to travel to the quarantine places. Hence, we want to ask the Chief Executive a question. Can the measures to counter the epidemic be more stringent? For instance, will the Government consider launching a compulsory universal virus test or enforcing compulsory installation and usage of the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): To put it simply, the stringent counter-epidemic measures, or even the compulsory measure which Mr CHAN just mentioned, are now being implemented. We have laws in place to order specific groups to receive compulsory virus tests, and the first one is the "dancing cluster". So, whenever we discover such a specific group, they are required to receive compulsory virus tests. And, as a Member just mentioned, when we conduct these tests, we need to take the specimens by ourselves, rather than letting people take their own deep throat saliva specimens by themselves. These people include age homes workers, taxi drivers, etc. We will definitely take this approach.

In my reply to reporters' questions yesterday, I clarified that there were many problems with a compulsory universal virus test. First of all, we have to consider what the purpose of the test is, and whether it can achieve the intended result. And if we are to achieve the intended result and purpose, what the entire community needs to do. I explained all these in detail yesterday. I hope Members of the Legislative Council will understand that under the present situation, any form of compulsory universal tests will not achieve its intended result, and practically speaking, it is very difficult to carry out. However, we will surely conduct compulsory virus tests on target groups. We are very willing 2016 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 to mandatorily require premises to install a QR code of the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app, which has been launched for a short while. We will do this in our next round of orders. However, I will meet with a lot of resistance if I just slightly mention mandatory scanning of these QR codes for entry into these premises. Having said that, if that is what we need to do, we will definitely do it. My answer to Mr CHAN's question is that except the universal virus test which is difficult to be implemented in a mandatory manner, we are now adopting a more stringent and mandatory approach on many other aspects of the work.

MR CHAN HAN-PAN (in Cantonese): Chief Executive, I mentioned just now that people were allowed to freely choose the means of public transport to travel to the quarantine places. Actually, this is the easiest part of the problem for the Government to deal with. We have repeatedly proposed to Chief Executive or the SAR Government officials that the Government should arrange transport for them to go to the hotels for quarantine, rather than giving them the chance to go into the community and get in touch with people. Why has the Government done nothing to date as if it has turned a deaf ear to our proposal?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): I believe we are not turning a deaf ear to it. But from a scientific point of view, inbound travellers who leave the airport have already received the virus tests and they are only allowed to leave if they are tested negative. We have to hold them for some time for the test. In such a short period of time, it is unreasonable that their body will have the virus again. But for those who have already resided in designated hotels, especially those returning from high risk places, they are surely not allowed to choose their hotel. They will have to reside in a designated hotel. It is relatively feasible to arrange the designated hotels and means of transport, and we are taking all these steps.

MR CHAN KIN-POR (in Cantonese): President, I wish to begin by thanking the Chief Executive for acceding to the recommendation of constructive Members on withdrawing the applications to the Finance Committee for creating directorate posts amidst the present tight financial position of the Hong Kong Government. That way, the Finance Committee may spare the time for the detailed vetting of those works projects of public concern, and everyone may join hands to develop Hong Kong.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2017

The Policy Address contains many bright spots, one notable example being the successful identification of sites to meet the demand for a total of some 300 000 public housing units in the next 10 years. This is very good news to those awaiting public housing allocation. Actually, the Chief Executive has adopted a dual-pronged approach this time around, in the sense that apart from identifying sites, she has even set up the Steering Group on Streamlining Development Control tasked to consolidate and rationalize the standards and definitions for scrutinizing private development projects, so as to avoid multiple vetting and in turn significantly expedite the launch of sites.

In my view, a great deal of determination is required for the success of such internal procedure reforms. And in fact, the abolition or streamlining of outdated procedures for the vetting and approval of applications may likewise enhance the Government's efficiency, reduce the Government's manpower required for this purpose, and give people the feeling that the Government's services have been enhanced. This is honestly a multiple-win situation.

May I ask whether the Government will undertake a comprehensive review of various government departments and introduce reforms for revamping those outdated, duplicated or unnecessary processes, and also how it will motivate the relevant officials to proceed with this matter willingly and sincerely?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): Many thanks to Mr CHAN. My discussion on reforming public departments in a paragraph of the Policy Address means the same thing as Mr CHAN, meaning to say that even if our resources are tight at the moment, this does not mean that we will not do anything. Instead, there is all the more reason to do something. We may do something new to serve the public. Or, we may undertake a comprehensive review as suggested by Mr CHAN just now to ascertain whether any such procedures are out of date, whether any such processes are overly cumbersome, or whether resource sharing is possible―that is, the possibility to consolidate the process where several departments seek information from the same member of the public. After the "iAM Smart" platform becomes available in the future, all this may become possible.

Let me give a brief reply to Mr CHAN: I will make it a requirement. I will call a meeting tomorrow involving all department heads to convey my requirements expected of them in my capacity as Chief Executive. They must examine whether the existing procedures are necessary, whether they can be 2018 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 conducted in another way, or whether they can be conducted with the increased use of technology. I once heard Premier LI Keqiang talk about "the streamlining of administrative approvals, the delegation of powers to lower levels and the improvement of regulations and services". We will definitely proceed from this angle, and I am very willing to do so.

Let me add one more point here. Mr CHAN talked about works projects. While we have learned some experience from past economic recessions and the resultant financial shortage, we still endeavour to invest in works projects this time around as we do not want to reduce such projects due to a lack of money. The reason is that even if an abrupt halt of certain projects with completed feasibility studies or even with everything ready may immediately save some money, we may end up having to spend more money in order to catch up in the future. Therefore, I hope the Public Works Subcommittee and the Finance Committee can strive to approve more works projects in the next few months. As far as I know, $160 billion was approved last year. This year, the total worth of works projects in the pipeline is slightly over $160 billion. So, I wish to ask Members to work hard on the vetting and approval of these works projects concerned.

MR CHAN KIN-POR (in Cantonese): President, I also wish to say something to various officials. Now that the Legislative Council has resumed normal operation at long last, I hope they can really make the most of the time in these few months as far as possible and support the Chief Executive in accomplishing various tasks for Hong Kong. In my view, the Chief Executive cannot single-handedly achieve this objective. All the 100 000 or so public officers at various levels (including AOs and even those at the middle and low levels) must work with one heart and join hands in order to accomplish these tasks for Hong Kong. That way, we may stand a chance of having a brand new Hong Kong and restoring prosperity and stability to Hong Kong.

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Mr Abraham SHEK, please state your question.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): President, sorry. May I give a brief reply?

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2019

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Yes, Chief Executive, please.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): I wish to give a brief reply. Sometimes, I will say that this is my Policy Address, so Members may think that it is a result of my sole efforts. But it cannot possibly be the case. Rather, this Policy Address is a result of the combined efforts of various Policy Bureaux and departments. So, Mr CHAN may rest assured that all my colleagues will work very hard.

The actualization of this Policy Address as the next step is truly a test of our abilities because we will encounter all sorts of difficulties in the process. But I have confidence, and I am willing to oversee the relevant work myself, so as to enable Members and the public to see our seriousness and persistence in implementing policies.

MR ABRAHAM SHEK (in Cantonese): President, when I was in primary school, I was most afraid of hearing my teachers call my name. So, next time …

(The on-site public address system emitted interference noises)

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Mr Abraham SHEK, is your mobile phone nearby?

MR ABRAHAM SHEK (in Cantonese): … please do not call my name. The reason is that all Legislative Council Members are elected representatives of the people. So, if you want to say thank you, you should say it to Hong Kong.

Last night, I shared the Chief Executive's Policy Address with a group of international and local students, and we watched the question and answer session of the Chief Executive's press conference …

(The on-site public address system emitted interference noises again)

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Mr SHEK, please move your mobile phone away.

(Mr Abraham SHEK moved his mobile phone away)

2020 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020

MR ABRAHAM SHEK (in Cantonese): A student asked me to convey this message to the Chief Executive. This is a fact and is not falsified. When answering a reporter's question "Why do you only thank the Central Authorities, your family and friends in paragraph 166?", the Chief Executive was a bit hesitant, and then she said that it was because she did not have time to meet with Hong Kong people lately. The student wished to tell the Chief Executive one thing through me. The Chief Executive's Policy Address of this year contains 167 paragraphs, and the altogether 30 000 or so characters in the various paragraphs therein are meant as a thank you to Hong Kong people for treading this most difficult path together with the Chief Executive and her officials. Therefore, the Chief Executive need not worry that she only has the support of her friends, the Central Authorities and the 30 000 or so police officers. In fact, all the 7 million people of Hong Kong also support the Chief Executive.

Second, paragraph 167 mentions towards the end how to rebuild Hong Kong's economy, and so on. In particular, the most important point is how to "revive the economy … rebuild Hong Kong's international reputation". Hong Kong is an open city, and it cannot stand to lose its international status.

In this regard, another student wished to ask the Chief Executive through me how she would proceed with this aspect. I have borrowed a history book―sorry, I want to use my mobile phone―and it talks about the requisites for a good leader. If I may borrow a page from history (I quote): "In response to a question 'What sort of leadership do you think Hong Kong needs in the future?', LEE Kuan Yew replied that Hong Kong needs pragmatic, realistic, subtle, sensitive and skilled executives who are good in people-to-people relations to persuade and convince China's leaders that Hong Kong's contribution to China is the greatest when Hong Kong is allowed to carry on in the old way but without upsetting China."

May I ask whether the Chief Executive agrees with this? If so, how will the Chief Executive guide her team in serving Hong Kong and, as stated in paragraph 167 of the Policy Address, lead us out of the black hole for the well-being of Hong Kong and the people?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): Under "one country, two systems", the Chief Executive plays a dual role with dual accountability. And also owing to the dual accountability position, certain difficulties have often arisen.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2021

I have deep feelings during these three years or so as Chief Executive. On the one hand, I have to be accountable to Hong Kong people and cater for their well-being; on the other, I also have to be accountable to Hong Kong and the Central Authorities. But if a handful of people persist in ruining the relationship between the Central Authorities and Hong Kong with incessant smears, deviating from the original intention of "one country, two systems", or even manifesting certain acts that jeopardize national security, I as Chief Executive cannot possibly accept the views and conduct of these Hong Kong people for the mere sake of having their continued support. For this reason, I will say that it is not an easy job. As I have also emphasized over and over again, it is very difficult to be a good Chief Executive. But I think I will exert my utmost.

Hong Kong needs a pragmatic and realistic government because it is not possible to accomplish certain things. One apt example is that we find it impossible to accomplish a certain task repeatedly requested by Mr Paul TSE, so I can only tell him so. This response is based on pragmatism and realism. But perhaps the Honourable Member may disagree, thinking that this is because I am being opinionated, I am being arrogant, or I am partial in heeding advice. In that case, I think both sides can only show mutual respect.

But in this difficult time, we actually need to work with more concerted efforts based on mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, so as to seek common ground while accommodating differences. I believe this will enable us to overcome even greater difficulties.

MR ABRAHAM SHEK (in Cantonese): President, I am very thankful to the Chief Executive for answering my question.

I can tell the Chief Executive that most people remain supportive of her, so she need not feel upset just because of a handful of people and implement any policies that only cater for this handful of people as a result. In contrast, any policies should be implemented for the well-being of Hong Kong and Hong Kong people, and also for Hong Kong's development.

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Mr LAU Kwok-fan, please state your question.

2022 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): President, sorry, I need to give a further reply very briefly.

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Alright, Chief Executive, please.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): Forgive me for being picky about the Member's choice of words. I do not agree with Mr SHEK's use of the word "upset". I have never based my principle of implementing policies on people's liking or otherwise for me. My principle is totally for the sake of implementing "one country, two systems" and Hong Kong's well-being. If I had purely hoped to obtain people's liking for me, I would not have adopted certain approaches. I hope Mr SHEK can understand my point.

MR LAU KWOK-FAN (in Cantonese): Chief Executive, I am glad with your announcement that about 330 hectares of land have been identified, enough to meet the 10-year housing target. However, these sites seem to have been constantly mentioned in the past, as typified by the New Development Areas in the North East New Territories and Hung Shui Kiu, and there do not appear to be many newly identified sites. I note that paragraph 98 of the Policy Address mentions the 90 hectares of land in San Tin. Actually, apart from these 90 hectares, many areas of land along the border in the New Territories are also available for development by the SAR Government. There are about six boundary control points in the New Territories. While Shenzhen, on the opposite side of the border, is very prosperous, this side of Hong Kong is very barren. In fact, the land in the vicinity of these boundary control points can be used to build some new towns, so as to develop boundary economy. For example, let us take a look at the latest Liantang Port, which has already been opened to traffic. There are high-rise buildings on the other side, but our side is still recreational and agricultural land, which is even deserted. Given the aforesaid, could the Chief Executive advise, as she, accepting our views, adopted some non-means-tested methods to pave a smoother way for the construction of new development areas years ago, whether it is possible this time to release the wetland and agricultural land along the boundary through re-planning or re-examination, with a view to increasing land supply for Hong Kong?

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2023

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): President, Mr LAU is very familiar with the land development in Hong Kong. There is potential for development in the North District but it also comes with great constraints. We have already drawn up plans for land development in the coming 10 years, with the North District being the next major source of supply. As you can read in the Policy Address, we advocate the need to expedite the implementation of the Northern Link ("NOL"). As infrastructure is the prerequisite for land development, I really hope for early implementation of NOL. The importance of this railway line has been talked about for some time. With NOL, it is possible to develop the land along the route, including Au Tau, San Tin and Lok Ma Chau. However, many areas of land to the south of the Shenzhen River are actually wetlands, and hence conserved land, for which it may not be so easy to pass the environmental impact assessment ("EIA") and go through the Town Planning Board ("TPB").

If there is room for development in the 87-hectare Lok Ma Chau Loop, why would there be only 1 million sq m of floor area? It is because the heights of buildings have to be lowered to avoid those flight paths of birds, or else EIA will fail. Is there a consensus in our society that sometimes trade-offs have to be made for development in some conservation areas inside or outside certain restricted areas along the border, or in some wetland buffer areas? I do not mean proper wetlands, such as Mai Po Wetland, which has to be preserved, of course. I hope for discussion among the community in this regard. However, back when the Task Force on Land Supply proposed the eight options, it did not quite have the guts either to say that some wetlands could be developed. That is why I always say that Lantau Tomorrow actually lets many environmentalists see that things can be preserved as they should be. If we do not launch Lantau Tomorrow, all these wetlands will have to be developed sooner or later; otherwise, where will land come from? Therefore, we hope to gain the community's support for taking forward Lantau Tomorrow. But it does not mean that nothing can be done, at least as far as port areas are concerned. For example, the improvement and redevelopment of the Huanggang Port will release 20 hectares of developed land. It is just that today it is used as a port area for customs clearance of trucks and such like. In the future, when the control point is moved to the new Huanggang Port on the Shenzhen side, the land on our side will be available for use. The same goes for the Lo Wu control point in the future. If we manage to pass EIA and go through TPB for those areas of land in the vicinity of the Liantang Port, they can surely be developed too. Therefore, in the future, the North District will be the focus for land development, but it has certain constraints.

2024 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020

MR LAU KWOK-FAN (in Cantonese): Chief Executive, as you have described NOL as so important, may I ask if there is a time frame for NOL? Since NOL has been proposed for a long time, could you give us the specifics of the timetable, alignment and stations?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): I hope it will be quick. The Transport and Housing Bureau and the MTR Corporation Limited can hopefully give Members the details as soon as possible. Please note that when I mentioned NOL, I expressed the hope that part of NOL could tie in with the population intake of the new town in Kwu Tung, so it may be necessary to build NOL in phases, first making the railway service available there for use by the residents who have moved in, and developing the entire NOL later. We will try to finalize the alignment as early as possible and thus be able to explain it to the community.

MR JEFFREY LAM (in Cantonese): President, the Policy Address delivered by the Chief Executive yesterday is very comprehensive. We support it and believe that all of it is beneficial to the short- and medium-term development of Hong Kong. More than that, we hope that all the proposals can be delivered on time and within budget.

The Chief Executive mentioned that she has the target of "zero infection", but what matters most is when it can be achieved. The industrial and commercial community is very concerned about the timing for the resumption of cross-boundary travel with the Mainland. Without it, there will be no tourists, no exhibitions, and no business negotiations between businessmen from both sides sitting together. The impact in this respect is huge.

Nevertheless, as for efforts to be made, we have to first guard against the importation of cases. We see that some loopholes have already resulted in the third wave. Now we have to prevent the resurgence of domestic infections. Every day, there are many local cases without a known source. The Chief Executive has just rightly said that members of the public should be cooperative and self-disciplined. Amid this momentous battle, all the people of Hong Kong should fight the virus together.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2025

The Chief Executive is more powerful than Superwoman. She is a "good fighter" with resourceful solutions. We are very supportive of her, but can she finish all the work by herself? Noting that her voice had already turned raspy from speaking for almost two hours yesterday, many members of the public texted me, expressing their concern and support for her and even saying that they dearly love her.

The Chief Executive often advocates prompt action on urgent matters and exceptional measures for exceptional circumstances, but at this moment of such urgency, we see that many departments still dissociate themselves from each other on many matters. The Chief Executive is on edge but they are not. They still go by the book.

May I ask, under the Chief Executive's leadership, how the Government can act more ambitiously to spare the public from seeing everything left to luck? Can she indicate to us how we can have a more stringent system to monitor every move made by every department? At present, they may often lead the Chief Executive up the garden path. Are they not telling the whole truth? The public supports the Chief Executive and hopes that the SAR Government does a good job in everything it does under her strong leadership.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): President, I thank Mr LAM. There is room for improving governance and expediting implementation. I require this of my Secretaries of Departments and Directors of Bureaux, who in my view have also worked very hard but can always do better. The professional departments can also do better in terms of vetting and approval, as well as serving the public. They can adopt more innovative technologies. I will keep urging them on, but of course we cannot just rely on people. As you said, some matters should rely on the system. Institutionalization is necessary. For example, they should be required to undertake a comprehensive review. In the most important areas, there must be high-level supervision and someone has to call the shot. We should not let a matter be passed around without anyone making a decision about it. As for housing and land, these mechanisms are currently coordinated by myself. I have just promised Mr YIU Si-wing that I will also oversee tourism myself. Matters related to the Greater Bay Area are also led by the Chief Executive. The Steering Committee on Innovation and Technology is also chaired by me. No matter how much time it takes, I will get the job done while hoping to have the support of the Council.

2026 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020

In fact, the restoration of calm in this Council within such a short period of time is actually a great help to us. Not only do colleagues now have more time to consider and do other things, but there is also one thing I would like to mention, with all due respect. Namely, had the Legislative Council before me today not been the Legislative Council as it is, this measure would not have appeared in this Policy Address. I am referring to the abolition of the Doubled Ad Valorem Stamp Duty on non-residential property transactions. As this calls for the amendments to the Stamp Duty Ordinance, if we are put off by bad experiences because, as it turned out, it would take half a year to set up a Bills Committee and there would be further toing and froing following the introduction into this Council, then how can we get it done? Anyway, it might have been done, but I would not have gone a step further by exercising the power vested in the Chief Executive to make a Public Revenue Protection Order to give effect to this measure today, thus addressing the pressing needs of the public and commercial property owners. As the Chief Executive's Public Revenue Protection Order is valid for only four months, if the Stamp Duty Ordinance cannot be properly enacted within four months, we will be in an awkward situation where refunds are necessary, among others.

I am so determined today because here before me is a rational and pragmatic Legislative Council. Had I been asked about this measure six months ago, I would definitely not have introduced it, or else I would have been in great trouble as to exactly what kind of stamp duty should be levied on those who had made transactions, and Hong Kong would have been in chaos.

I hope these remarks enable the public to understand that this is what we mean by saying that the executive authorities and the legislature should both complement, and keep a check and balance on, each other's functions. When we put forward a policy, I believe that it is generally accepted by the community, but sometimes good policies fail to get implemented because some people do not cooperate. They do not perform the coordinative function that Members of the Legislative Council are supposed to perform. However, today we are confident that, at least in the remaining eight or nine months, we will make the most of our time to do what is good for the public and what the legislature can support. Here, I would like to thank Members once again for giving us this confidence.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2027

MR JEFFREY LAM (in Cantonese): President, we will fully support the Chief Executive. I have just now asked her about the target of "zero infection". I think all the people of Hong Kong are very concerned about when the vaccines will be available. Will they be ready in the first quarter? If the Chief Executive can provide an indication, I think we will all feel more secured and at ease.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): Mr LAM, it is difficult for any government to give you such a timetable or roadmap. Until vaccines are rolled out, such fluctuations are unavoidable. It is just a matter of whether the rebound is fast or slow, or whether it is large or small. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to accurately conduct virus testing to identify the infected as soon as possible and then keep them in quarantine for treatment in a bid to curb the transmission. Besides, most importantly, the public should strictly observe anti-epidemic discipline. You said that we still have some loopholes in guarding against the importation of cases and hence some infected people have slipped through the cracks, but even if an infected person had slipped through the cracks and gone out into the community, as long as everybody properly observed anti-epidemic discipline and did not go dancing, remove their masks, join gatherings or visit crowded places, the outbreak would not have reached such an extent.

I would like to reiterate here my call for everybody to observe strict anti-epidemic discipline if our common goal is also to strive for "zero infection" and get rid of such local cases.

MR MA FUNG-KWOK (in Cantonese): President, having listened to the Policy Address delivered by the Chief Executive yesterday, I think the Policy Address as a whole reflects that the Government has been very dedicated and has indeed made a great effort. The Policy Address covers a wide range of areas, and I can see that the Government has a vision and has put forth many specific measures, particularly in the areas of land, housing, finance, innovation and technology, and even creative industries. On the whole, I am very supportive of this Policy Address.

2028 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020

Looking closely at it once again, however, I find that it has fallen short of addressing some pressing issues, especially as far as the sports, performing arts, culture, and publication sectors that I represent are concerned. These sectors employ more than 400 000 people, a quarter of whom are self-employed. Among this pretty large group of self-employed people (about 100 000 people), only some of them have been able to receive certain amount of financial support over a long period of time in the past. For example, less than 50 000 people (i.e. less than half of them) received only two subsidy payments of $7,500 and $5,000 (i.e. a total of $12,500) respectively. I certainly consider this to be something worthy of acknowledgement, but there are still more than half of the group of self-employed people out there who are not given any support at all.

Over the past more than six months, I have been trying hard to discuss this issue with various government departments countless times and have written to the relevant departments as well, but have yet to receive a clear reply. I feel very sorry for them because once they leave these industries, it is not easy for them to make a return in the future. Personally, I am very supportive of the Government's approach―it was mentioned in yesterday's Policy Address that the Government does not have much money at its disposal and can only spend its last penny―namely making better use of some existing funds, such as the Film Development Fund ("FDF") which I often mention has just been injected with $1 billion by the Government. Can we make better use of such fund? Yet, the attitude of the relevant department is not at all positive, and as mentioned in yesterday's Policy Address, only $260 million will be earmarked for establishing funding projects as a supportive measure for members of the industries to apply for funding. However, what they need now are mostly immediate measures instead.

Another example is the Hong Kong Book Fair ("the Book Fair") held for the publication sector …

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Mr MA Fung-kwok, please do not cite any examples but ask your question direct.

MR MA FUNG-KWOK (in Cantonese): Alright, I will ask my question direct and hope that the Chief Executive will respond to it: Can the Government not wait until next year when the Book Fair will be organized to give out the $40 million which it has committed to support the Book Fair but use the sum for LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2029 the purpose of offering immediate support to the publication sector to ride out the present difficulties instead? It is because the proceeds from the Book Fair are of utmost importance to the publication sector. I hope that the Government will, in a timely manner, introduce this kind of measures immediately which do not involve a lot of additional resources. I hope the Chief Executive will respond in this connection.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): Thank you, Mr MA. I did have heard from Mr MA something about the peculiar circumstances of the industries concerned since quite a lot of the members in the performing arts industry are self-employed/freelancers. Of course, we are trying our best to take precise precautionary measures against the pandemic and let people continue operating their business as far as possible. We will allow people to go to concerts or watch arts performances if they do wear face masks. Otherwise, it will be even more difficult for those working in the industry to make a living.

Speaking of ways to offer instant help to this group of people, however, I will, perhaps, ask the Chief Secretary for Administration to look into it again. FDF caters for relevant projects, and even the funding for the exhibition industry is supposed to be used for exhibition and not relief purposes. Relief measures still come under the Anti-epidemic Fund. Anyway, Secretary CHEUNG will please further look into this.

MR MA FUNG-KWOK (in Cantonese): Personally, President, I think that we can make special arrangements as warranted by a particular situation. We are now facing a very tough situation, and I understand that the Government does not have much spare money to spend. Nevertheless, these sectors are in desperate need of support. Not only the performing arts sector but also the sports sector and the arts and culture sector are also facing these problems. Therefore, all these sectors, with tens of thousands of members in total, are facing similar problems. I hope that the Government will consider my proposals in a serious manner.

The Chief Executive has just mentioned the Chief Secretary for Administration. In fact, I have approached the Chief Secretary for Administration no less than six or seven times, but the problems still remain unresolved.

2030 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): Let me look into this again.

DR PIERRE CHAN (in Cantonese): The Chief Executive mentioned "zero infection" in paragraph 35 of the Policy Address and expressed her hope of achieving the goal of resuming travelling between the two places at an early date.

What is meant by "zero infection" then? According to various media reports, this means not "zero confirmed case" but "zero confirmed local case". Why is it so defined? Is it because achieving "zero infection" is utterly impossible? In my opinion, it is due to the Administration's "inaction" rather than "inability".

In fact, there are flights arriving in Hong Kong from India, the United Kingdom and the United States every day as Hong Kong is unable to completely close all boundary control points. And so, there must be imported cases. However, has Hong Kong never recorded zero confirmed local case? Not really. No local confirmed case had been recorded for 19 consecutive days in early May, and we had not any confirmed cases for 18 consecutive days in late June as well. Hong Kong was able to achieve "zero confirmed local case" back then without launching a population-wide testing exercise. The Chief Executive also mentioned in the interview on 27 August that the third wave of infections in Hong Kong was likely to be connected with sea crew and air crew.

In order to achieve "zero confirmed local case", it is important to focus on imported cases rather than local cases. Although the Government often talks about tightening cross-boundary control measures comprehensively, many problems have emerged due to the loopholes in granting exemptions from compulsory quarantine and hotel/home quarantine. In my opinion, it is rather ridiculous that on the one hand, the Administration imposed the compulsory quarantine requirement on those asymptomatic local citizens while tracking their whereabouts, but on the other hand, not all visitors to Hong Kong are subject to compulsory testing and some people (whose whereabouts cannot be tracked) are even exempted from quarantine.

My question is: after fighting the pandemic for 10 months, will the Government take a "watertight" approach to get it right in one step in the implementation details in its efforts to tighten cross-boundary control measures and plug the loopholes in granting exemptions from compulsory quarantine?

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2031

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): Thank you, Dr CHAN. As I have just told in my response to Mr Michael TIEN's question, we are now conducting a comprehensive review, that is, to review step by step what further improvements can be made or what existing loopholes can be plugged. Work of this sort will be done.

As regards the designation of hotels for quarantine and methods of sample collection, decisions on the implementation of all these have been made and so actions will be taken as soon as possible. I hope that we can expeditiously compile some documents and information so that Members can take a fresh look at how far we have come in guarding against the importation of cases because we are still talking about the exempted persons sometimes. Actually, exempted persons are already subject to various restrictions for the time being. Yet, will the measure of guarding against the importation of cases be the complete solution to the pandemic problem? I am afraid not because to the best I know, a 14-day isolation is adopted (i.e. 14 days of quarantine) in general, but in some cases, it may take more than 14 days before some symptoms appear. Thus, an expert of mine has suggested recently that it would be better to adopt the "14+7" approach. But then, should we further extend the quarantine period in the future upon coming across a case that takes 28 days for the symptoms to show?

In other words, there seems to be no 100% guarantee in public health since there must be some misses and loopholes, and preventing the spread of the virus upon the rebound or preventing a rebound of the epidemic situation is what really matters. To this end, we still have to resort to the two measures, namely the target groups are subject to compulsory testing as soon as possible and members of the public should show discipline by strictly abiding by the code of infection prevention.

DR PIERRE CHAN (in Cantonese): I know that infection prevention is a rather difficult task, but Mainland China, Taiwan and Macao have done a good job in infection prevention by exercising cross-boundary control with a low infection rate achieved. I provided such information to the Government and the Chief Executive simply to show that we are also able to do so.

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): I have no objection for we can definitely do better, but we also need to consider the extent of public acceptance. Now, for example, let us say that many children (of Hong Kong parents) studying abroad will come back to Hong Kong to spend their winter holidays here in the near future, are we not going to let them come back then? Can we ask them not to come back and wait until later, saying that we are simply unable to handle it if they do come back? This is just impossible and that explains why we, in doing our jobs, often have to take into account the actual situation.

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Chief Executive, would you please answer one more Member's question?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): Yes.

MRS REGINA IP (in Cantonese): President, the Policy Address announced by the Chief Executive yesterday is very detailed. It is very obvious that she has put tremendous efforts in it, and we appreciate that very much. However, there is a concern among the middle class―perhaps this issue has not caught the attention of the Chief Executive because she does not have such a need―which is about foreign domestic helpers. I have recently received many complaints from the middle class about employers being required to pay the training cost of foreign domestic helpers by the Indonesian authorities, and I was informed that the same requirement is also imposed by the Philippines. This will add to the heavy burden borne by the middle class, especially when the countries exporting foreign domestic helpers are few and far between. Hence, the burden of hiring a foreign domestic helper is getting heavier. I have received many such complaints. They sought assistance from Secretary Dr LAW Chi-kwong but he could not offer much help. I of course understand the advice from the SAR Government that it cannot direct the Government of Indonesia or Thailand what to do. But can the Government offer a little more help by at least asking them to reduce the fees?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): I thank Mrs Regina IP for her question. I will ask Secretary Dr LAW Chi-kwong to seriously look into those areas where we can offer assistance. However, this is again a matter of balance that I just mentioned, because we cannot allow too many foreign domestic helpers to come LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 November 2020 2033 to Hong Kong for fear of increasing the risks of infection and spreading of virus. Hence, when a foreign domestic helper, already staying in Hong Kong, is about to change employer, we are also very cautious in requiring her to pass the virus test before she can work in the new employer's family. Anyway, we will study again the issue raised by Mrs Regina IP.

MRS REGINA IP (in Cantonese): Employers understand that foreign domestic helpers are unable to come to Hong Kong in the short term, but the long-standing problem troubling employers is the exorbitant charges in employing foreign domestic helpers. At present, the charges of the employment agencies concerned are quite high. Besides, many foreign domestic helpers will change employers or resign with various reasons after working in Hong Kong for a very short period of time―they actually have some means to find jobs in Hong Kong―and then the original employer will need to pay the charges again for employing another foreign domestic helper. Therefore, many middle-class employers ask whether an employer can enjoy a waiver in air ticket fees and the like if the foreign domestic helper concerned resigns or changes employer within three months of employment, so as to alleviate the burden of employers. This is a long-term issue.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): We will include this issue in our study.

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): The Chief Executive's Question and Answer Session ends. The Chief Executive now leaves the Chamber. Members stand up please.

(The Chief Executive left the Chamber)

NEXT MEETING

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): I now adjourn the Council. The Council will resume on Wednesday, 2 December 2020 at 11:00 am.

Adjourned accordingly at 12:02 pm.