LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 January 2014 5087 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 8 January 2014 The Council met at Eleven o'clock MEMBERS PRESENT: THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE JASPER TSANG YOK-SING, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALBERT HO CHUN-YAN THE HONOURABLE LEE CHEUK-YAN THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN THE HONOURABLE CHAN KAM-LAM, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG YIU-CHUNG DR THE HONOURABLE LAU WONG-FAT, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE EMILY LAU WAI-HING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE TAM YIU-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ABRAHAM SHEK LAI-HIM, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE, S.B.S., J.P. 5088 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 January 2014 THE HONOURABLE VINCENT FANG KANG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-HING, B.B.S., M.H. PROF THE HONOURABLE JOSEPH LEE KOK-LONG, S.B.S., J.P., Ph.D., R.N. THE HONOURABLE JEFFREY LAM KIN-FUNG, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ANDREW LEUNG KWAN-YUEN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG TING-KWONG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE RONNY TONG KA-WAH, S.C. THE HONOURABLE CYD HO SAU-LAN THE HONOURABLE STARRY LEE WAI-KING, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LAM TAI-FAI, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN KIN-POR, B.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PRISCILLA LEUNG MEI-FUN, S.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LEUNG KA-LAU THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG KWOK-CHE THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-KIN, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE IP KWOK-HIM, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS REGINA IP LAU SUK-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE PAUL TSE WAI-CHUN, J.P. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 January 2014 5089 THE HONOURABLE ALAN LEONG KAH-KIT, S.C. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG KWOK-HUNG THE HONOURABLE ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP THE HONOURABLE WONG YUK-MAN THE HONOURABLE CLAUDIA MO THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL TIEN PUK-SUN, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JAMES TIEN PEI-CHUN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE NG LEUNG-SING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE STEVEN HO CHUN-YIN THE HONOURABLE FRANKIE YICK CHI-MING THE HONOURABLE WU CHI-WAI, M.H. THE HONOURABLE YIU SI-WING THE HONOURABLE GARY FAN KWOK-WAI THE HONOURABLE MA FUNG-KWOK, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHARLES PETER MOK THE HONOURABLE CHAN CHI-CHUEN THE HONOURABLE CHAN HAN-PAN DR THE HONOURABLE KENNETH CHAN KA-LOK THE HONOURABLE CHAN YUEN-HAN, S.B.S., J.P. 5090 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 January 2014 THE HONOURABLE LEUNG CHE-CHEUNG, B.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE KENNETH LEUNG THE HONOURABLE ALICE MAK MEI-KUEN, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE KWOK KA-KI THE HONOURABLE KWOK WAI-KEUNG THE HONOURABLE DENNIS KWOK THE HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER CHEUNG WAH-FUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE SIN CHUNG-KAI, S.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE HELENA WONG PIK-WAN THE HONOURABLE IP KIN-YUEN DR THE HONOURABLE ELIZABETH QUAT, J.P. THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LIAO CHEUNG-KONG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE POON SIU-PING, B.B.S., M.H. THE HONOURABLE TANG KA-PIU DR THE HONOURABLE CHIANG LAI-WAN, J.P. IR DR THE HONOURABLE LO WAI-KWOK, B.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHUNG KWOK-PAN THE HONOURABLE TONY TSE WAI-CHUEN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 January 2014 5091 MEMBERS ABSENT: THE HONOURABLE CHAN HAK-KAN, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE FERNANDO CHEUNG CHIU-HUNG THE HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER CHUNG SHU-KUN, B.B.S., M.H., J.P. PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING: THE HONOURABLE JOHN TSANG CHUN-WAH, G.B.M., J.P. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY PROF THE HONOURABLE ANTHONY CHEUNG BING-LEUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING THE HONOURABLE TSANG TAK-SING, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS THE HONOURABLE MATTHEW CHEUNG KIN-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND WELFARE PROF THE HONOURABLE K C CHAN, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY THE HONOURABLE GREGORY SO KAM-LEUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE HONOURABLE LAI TUNG-KWOK, S.B.S., I.D.S.M., J.P. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY THE HONOURABLE EDDIE NG HAK-KIM, S.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION 5092 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 January 2014 THE HONOURABLE PAUL CHAN MO-PO, M.H., J.P. SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT MR ERIC MA SIU-CHEUNG UNDER SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MR KENNETH CHEN WEI-ON, S.B.S., SECRETARY GENERAL MRS JUSTINA LAM CHENG BO-LING, DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL MISS FLORA TAI YIN-PING, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MISS ODELIA LEUNG HING-YEE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 January 2014 5093 PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Will the Clerk please ring the bell to summon Members to the Chamber. (After the summoning bell had been rung, a number of Members entered the Chamber) PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Members, we have failed to start our meeting on time due to the absence of a quorum almost on every occasion. I once again remind Members to be punctual when attending meetings. TABLING OF PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table under Rule 21(2) of the Rules of Procedure: Subsidiary Legislation/Instrument L.N. No. Antiquities and Monuments (Declaration of Historical Buildings) (No. 2) Notice 2013 .............................. 206/2013 Other Papers Report No. 8/13-14 of the House Committee on Consideration of Subsidiary Legislation and Other Instruments Report of The Legislative Council Commission on the use of mobile applications and social media websites to disseminate information on the Legislative Council QUESTIONS UNDER RULE 24(4) OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Questions. Apart from six oral questions for this meeting, I have permitted Mr SIN Chung-kai to ask an urgent question under Rule 24(4) of the Rules of Procedure. 5094 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 January 2014 Urgent Measures to Halt Circulation of Counterfeit Banknotes MR SIN CHUNG-KAI (in Cantonese): President, as counterfeit $1,000 denomination banknotes of the 2003 series are found in the market and the circulation of banknotes will surge before the Lunar New Year, will the Government inform this Council: (1) whether it will require various banks to immediately withdraw all 2003 series of $1,000 banknotes from circulation; if it will, of the timetable; if not, the reasons for that, and what immediate measures it will adopt to prevent the problem of counterfeit banknotes from deteriorating; and (2) whether it will require various banks to complete the recalibration of all cash deposit machines in the territory expeditiously and before the Lunar New Year, so as to avoid accepting counterfeit banknotes, and ensure that counterfeit banknotes deposited with the banks through these machines will not be circulated in the market? SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY (in Cantonese): President, (1) In 2010, when the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) introduced a new series of banknotes, it also arranged for the gradual withdrawal of the 2003 series from the market, with a view to replacing the relatively worn-out 2003 series notes with the new series. The HKMA and banks will speed up the process of replacement but the timing has to depend on how fast banknotes will return to banks from circulation. Those who do not want to have any 2003 series $1,000 banknotes can request new series notes when withdrawing cash from banks, or replace their older series notes in hand with the new series ones at banks, without waiting for a total recall. In fact, there is currently no need for a total recall of the 2003 series $1,000 notes lest it might cause even greater inconvenience and unnecessary disruptions to the general public and businesses. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 January 2014 5095 For the time being, it is important to promote public knowledge of banknotes so that they can fully understand how to identify counterfeit notes. Although the newly spotted counterfeits contain imitation of some of the security features in the real notes, the public can still quite easily identify the counterfeits. In particular, the yellow fluorescent barcode on the front of the counterfeit notes is relatively dull and dim when viewed under an ultraviolet lamp. The edges of the metallic thread on the back of the counterfeits are much smoother, and the printing is of poorer quality with flaws. So far, about 100 such Bank of China Hong Kong (BOCHK) and HSBC $1,000 counterfeit notes were seized by the police, and the number of counterfeit notes seized recently is not exceptionally high. The HKMA and the police have so far organized a number of seminars on identifying counterfeit notes. Apart from bank staff, employees of major retail and catering chains were also invited to help strengthen their ability to detect counterfeit notes. To facilitate a wider and more convenient access to information on the features of genuine and fake notes and their key differences, the HKMA has uploaded onto its website a video on the explanations given at the seminars. This educational work will continue. The HKMA will keep in close liaison with all banks in Hong Kong with a cash-handling business, and request them to provide staff with appropriate information and training concerning the features of counterfeit notes. Banks are also asked to ensure that there is enough manpower to carry out banknote examination work and provide assistance for customers.