OFFICIAL RECORD of PROCEEDINGS Friday, 1 February
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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 1 February 2013 6109 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Friday, 1 February 2013 The Council continued to meet at Nine 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, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE VINCENT FANG KANG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-HING, M.H. 6110 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 1 February 2013 DR THE HONOURABLE JOSEPH LEE KOK-LONG, S.B.S., J.P. 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 HAK-KAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN KIN-POR, B.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PRISCILLA LEUNG MEI-FUN, 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. THE HONOURABLE ALAN LEONG KAH-KIT, S.C. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG KWOK-HUNG THE HONOURABLE ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP THE HONOURABLE WONG YUK-MAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 1 February 2013 6111 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. 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 6112 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 1 February 2013 THE HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER CHEUNG WAH-FUNG, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE FERNANDO CHEUNG CHIU-HUNG 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 CHRISTOPHER CHUNG SHU-KUN, B.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TONY TSE WAI-CHUEN PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING: THE HONOURABLE MRS CARRIE LAM CHENG YUET-NGOR, G.B.S., J.P. THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION THE HONOURABLE JOHN TSANG CHUN-WAH, G.B.M., J.P. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE RIMSKY YUEN KWOK-KEUNG, S.C., J.P. THE SECRETARY FOR JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 1 February 2013 6113 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 RAYMOND TAM CHI-YUEN, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AND MAINLAND AFFAIRS 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 THE HONOURABLE PAUL TANG KWOK-WAI, J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE DR THE HONOURABLE KO WING-MAN, B.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR FOOD AND HEALTH THE HONOURABLE WONG KAM-SING, J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THE HONOURABLE PAUL CHAN MO-PO, M.H., J.P. SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT MS FLORENCE HUI HIU-FAI, J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS 6114 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 1 February 2013 MR JOHN LEE KA-CHIU, P.D.S.M., P.M.S.M., J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR SECURITY MS CHRISTINE LOH, J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT PROF SOPHIA CHAN SIU-CHEE UNDER SECRETARY FOR FOOD AND HEALTH MR LAU KONG-WAH, J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AND MAINLAND AFFAIRS CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MR KENNETH CHEN WEI-ON, S.B.S., SECRETARY GENERAL MRS JUSTINA LAM CHENG BO-LING, DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL MR ANDY LAU KWOK-CHEONG, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MISS FLORA TAI YIN-PING, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MISS ODELIA LEUNG HING-YEE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MRS PERCY MA, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 1 February 2013 6115 MEMBERS' MOTIONS PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Good morning. The Council now resumes, continuing the debates on poverty alleviation, welfare, population policy, education and manpower issues under the theme of the third debate session of the Motion of Thanks. MOTION OF THANKS Continuation of debate on motion which was moved on 30 January 2013 PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Does any Member wish to speak? (No Member indicated a wish to speak) PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): If no Members wish to speak, the Member speaking session of this debate session will come to a close. As public officers have mentioned earlier that the meeting does not have to be suspended, I will call upon three public officers to speak. CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION (in Cantonese): President and Honourable Members, good morning. Over 30 Members spoke in this session yesterday, I would like to express my gratitude to them. Members offered many valuable opinions and suggestions on poverty alleviation, welfare, population policy, education and manpower. Of course there were inevitably a few criticisms. Later on the Secretary for Labour and Welfare and the Secretary for Education will response specifically. We will summarize the issues with a view to strengthening the effectiveness of our policies. Chapter IV of the Policy Address is titled "A Caring Society and a Home to the People". The Hong Kong society as a whole is wealthy, yet I share the feelings of our fellow Members and deeply understand that many people are still living an impoverished life today. As mentioned by the Chief Executive in his Policy Address, taking into account the current economic structure and mode of social development in Hong Kong, a welfare policy underpinned by heavy 6116 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 1 February 2013 taxation is not a viable option. That said, we will adhere to the policy philosophy of "a caring society" by utilizing public resources to take care of those who cannot provide for themselves, and strive to offer underprivileged people capable of working with opportunities to become self-reliant and improve their livelihood, so as to demonstrate social justice and fulfil the responsibility of a government. Poverty alleviation is an issue of not only social welfare but also social justice. Indeed, Hon LEUNG Yiu-chung has interpreted the words of the Chief Executive, thinking that poverty alleviation is also a political issue. To me, owing to the people's concern on poverty alleviation and the importance attached, I believe that poverty alleviation is also an issue about the effective governance of the current-term Government. I would like to take the opportunity of today's debate to report to Honourable Members two working areas relating to the development of Hong Kong, our home. They are the implementation of poverty alleviation efforts and the formulation of population policy for the territory. We all know that poverty alleviation is one of the major policies of the current-term Government. As the Chief Executive considers that poverty alleviation can afford no delay, he has required us since the current-term Government has come into office to expeditiously kick start various poverty alleviation efforts, in accordance with his style of governance that focuses on "Addressing People's Pressing Needs". For instance, we announced back in mid-July that "Old Age Living Allowance" would be introduced to offer needy elderly people with an allowance of $2,200 per month. I am glad that the programme is in the pipeline, as the Director of Social Welfare announced yesterday the details for lodging application for the allowances, and the funds can be handed to the needy elderly people in April. Fellow Members may also notice that, unlike what Mr POON Siu-ping has mentioned as petty favours, the Old Age Living Allowance is a substantial poverty alleviation measure. Mr POON considers it more appropriate for us to alleviate poverty through formulating the right policy, instead of giving out too many petty favours.