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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 March 2014 9355 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Thursday, 27 March 2014 The Council continued to meet at half-past Two 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. 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. THE HONOURABLE VINCENT FANG KANG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-HING, B.B.S., M.H. 9356 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 March 2014 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 HAK-KAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN KIN-POR, B.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PRISCILLA LEUNG MEI-FUN, S.B.S., J.P. 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 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 March 2014 9357 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. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG CHE-CHEUNG, B.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALICE MAK MEI-KUEN, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE KWOK KA-KI THE HONOURABLE KWOK WAI-KEUNG 9358 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 March 2014 THE HONOURABLE DENNIS KWOK 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 MEMBERS ABSENT: THE HONOURABLE LEUNG YIU-CHUNG DR THE HONOURABLE LEUNG KA-LAU THE HONOURABLE KENNETH LEUNG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 March 2014 9359 PUBLIC OFFICER ATTENDING: MR KEVIN YEUNG YUN-HUNG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MISS ODELIA LEUNG HING-YEE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MRS PERCY MA, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL 9360 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 March 2014 MEMBERS' MOTIONS PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Council now resumes. We will continue with the debate on the motion on "Properly dealing with problems arising from cross-boundary students". Mr WONG Kwok-hing, please speak. PROPERLY DEALING WITH PROBLEMS ARISING FROM CROSS-BOUNDARY STUDENTS Continuation of debate on motion which was moved on 26 March 2014 MR WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese): President, I speak in support of the original motion and Mr TANG Ka-piu's amendment to the motion. President, as a Member of the New Territories West geographical constituency in the last term of the Legislative Council and as a resident of Tuen Mun, I can see and feel the hardships of cross-boundary students. They are like a flock of ducklings and their carers are also very tiring looking after them. In fact, apart from cross-boundary students, people who cross the boundary to work every morning and cross the boundary to return home at night also have to face various problems and difficulties in their lives, which can hardly be understood by those who are not in the same boat. In fact, cross-boundary problems are not limited to the area of education. President, under the concepts of "one country, two systems" and "one river, two banks", there are different strengths and attraction of the Mainland and Hong Kong. Some people of both sides have chosen to lead a cross-boundary life due to a variety of factors, including financial reasons, business start-ups, employment, family considerations, accommodation and other aspects of life. As the Chinese saying goes, "Man aims high whilst water flows downstream"; cross-boundary living is a natural phenomenon which is understandable. However, cross-boundary living has created a lot of difficulties in life which requires the attention and assistance of the Government and community of both places. The Government should not only focus on addressing problems arising from cross-boundary education, it should also consider other aspects of life that follow, for example, further studies, employment, marriage, healthcare LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 March 2014 9361 and social welfare. In fact, society as a whole should be concerned about these problems. President, to assist people of the Mainland and Hong Kong to resolve their practical problems, I think we should work in four areas. First, we should adopt an understanding and accommodating attitude towards people from the Mainland instead of rejecting them. We should not discriminate them, hurl abuse at them or ridicule them. I do not wish to hear words which will hurt the feelings of the people of Mainland and Hong Kong. I have noticed that some groups (for example, Local Action) provoke China-Hong Kong conflicts and stir up hostility between different communities under different names. They have turned public opinions into actions, instigated the so-called "Anti-locust Campaign" to target shopping malls and tourists and disrupted the social order of Hong Kong. I think such improper behaviour should be condemned. A proper attitude is the first step to resolving any problem. Second, I think we should vigorously urge the Hong Kong Government and the Mainland authorities to collaborate in tackling the problem by conducting cross-boundary research and allocating additional resources, so as to work out feasible solutions that can turn negative factors into positive ones. Cross-boundary collaboration is very important and we cannot simply rely on one government or one side to take actions. Third, I think the SAR Government should promote inter-departmental collaboration to resolve the problems. As stated in the heading of the motion, different problems have arisen from cross-boundary education. Hence, the responsibility of resolving the problems should not be shouldered by the Education Bureau alone, various Policy Bureaux and departments should be involved. They should consider that they are duty-bound to resolve the problems, not just resolving the problems that arise in the coming few years, but also considering how to deal with the anticipated problems in future. I hope the Under Secretary would understand that the authorities should liaise and collaborate with relevant Policy Bureaux and departments to handle the problems. Fourth, I think civil societies and the Government of the two places should endeavor to promote "multi-partite collaboration" to mobilize various factors to deal with problems arising from cross-boundary education. Why do I propose "multi-partite collaboration"? "Multi-partite collaboration" can involve 9362 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 March 2014 government authorities, business organizations and civil societies; it can also involve parents, teachers, education institutions and non-governmental groups, such as clansmen associations, community organizations and welfare organizations or even relevant government departments of Hong Kong and the Mainland. These parties can liaise, exchange ideas and collaborate at different levels to work out feasible solutions. In order to resolve the livelihood and financial problems arising from cross-boundary students, we cannot rely on the efforts made by a single party and multi-partite collaboration is needed. I hope the Government will seriously consider the four proposals which I have made. President, regarding Mr Gary FAN's proposal to amend the relevant provisions of the Basic Law, I think that is an impetuous move without careful consideration. The Basic Law seeks to protect the rights of the people of Hong Kong and safeguard the implementation of "one country, two systems". It is a constitution which everyone should comply with. We cannot rashly propose to amend the Basic Law because of some difficulties currently encountered by Hong Kong people. If we amend the Basic Law at will today, the adverse implications may be far reaching. For instance, should problems arise in another area in future, we may have to amend the Basic Law again.