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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 November 2000 693 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 8 November 2000 The Council met at half-past Two o'clock MEMBERS PRESENT: THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE MRS RITA FAN HSU LAI-TAI, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE KENNETH TING WOO-SHOU, J.P. THE HONOURABLE JAMES TIEN PEI-CHUN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE DAVID CHU YU-LIN THE HONOURABLE CYD HO SAU-LAN IR DR THE HONOURABLE RAYMOND HO CHUNG-TAI, J.P. THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LEE CHU-MING, S.C., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ERIC LI KA-CHEUNG, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE DAVID LI KWOK-PO, J.P. THE HONOURABLE FRED LI WAH-MING, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LUI MING-WAH, J.P. THE HONOURABLE NG LEUNG-SING PROF THE HONOURABLE NG CHING-FAI 694 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 November 2000 THE HONOURABLE MARGARET NG THE HONOURABLE MRS SELINA CHOW LIANG SHUK-YEE, J.P. THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG MAN-KWONG THE HONOURABLE HUI CHEUNG-CHING THE HONOURABLE CHAN KWOK-KEUNG THE HONOURABLE CHAN YUEN-HAN THE HONOURABLE BERNARD CHAN THE HONOURABLE CHAN KAM-LAM THE HONOURABLE MRS SOPHIE LEUNG LAU YAU-FUN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG YIU-CHUNG THE HONOURABLE SIN CHUNG-KAI THE HONOURABLE ANDREW WONG WANG-FAT, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PHILIP WONG YU-HONG THE HONOURABLE JASPER TSANG YOK-SING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE HOWARD YOUNG, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE YEUNG SUM THE HONOURABLE YEUNG YIU-CHUNG THE HONOURABLE LAU CHIN-SHEK, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU KONG-WAH LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 November 2000 695 THE HONOURABLE LAU WONG-FAT, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS MIRIAM LAU KIN-YEE, J.P. THE HONOURABLE AMBROSE LAU HON-CHUEN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE EMILY LAU WAI-HING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHOY SO-YUK THE HONOURABLE ANDREW CHENG KAR-FOO THE HONOURABLE SZETO WAH THE HONOURABLE TIMOTHY FOK TSUN-TING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAW CHI-KWONG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE TAM YIU-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE TANG SIU-TONG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE ABRAHAM SHEK LAI-HIM, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LI FUNG-YING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE HENRY WU KING-CHEONG, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL MAK KWOK-FUNG THE HONOURABLE ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP THE HONOURABLE LEUNG FU-WAH, M.H., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LO WING-LOK THE HONOURABLE WONG SING-CHI 696 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 November 2000 THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE THE HONOURABLE IP KWOK-HIM, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU PING-CHEUNG MEMBERS ABSENT: THE HONOURABLE ALBERT HO CHUN-YAN THE HONOURABLE LEE CHEUK-YAN THE HONOURABLE WONG YUNG-KAN PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING: MR MICHAEL SUEN MING-YEUNG, G.B.S., J.P. THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION THE HONOURABLE DONALD TSANG YAM-KUEN, J.P. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE ELSIE LEUNG OI-SIE, J.P. THE SECRETARY FOR JUSTICE MR DOMINIC WONG SHING-WAH, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR HOUSING MR JOSEPH WONG WING-PING, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE MISS DENISE YUE CHUNG-YEE, J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY MR LAM WOON-KWONG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 November 2000 697 MR LEE SHING-SEE, J.P. SECRETARY FOR WORKS MRS FANNY LAW FAN CHIU-FUN, J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER MS SANDRA LEE SUK-YEE, J.P. SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES MR KEVIN HO CHI-MING, J.P. SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT MR GREGORY LEUNG WING-LUP, J.P. SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MR RICKY FUNG CHOI-CHEUNG, J.P., SECRETARY GENERAL MR LAW KAM-SANG, J.P., DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL MS PAULINE NG MAN-WAH, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL 698 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 November 2000 TABLING OF PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table pursuant to Rule 21(2) of the Rules of Procedure: Subsidiary Legislation/Instruments L.N. No. Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles (Amendment) Regulation 2000......................................... 288/2000 Public Health and Municipal Services (Fees and Charges) (Museums) Regulation ................................. 289/2000 Road Traffic (Village Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulation 2000......................................... 290/2000 Legal Practitioners (Fees) (Amendment) Rules 2000....................................................... 291/2000 Tax Reserve Certificates (Rate of Interest) (No. 10) Notice 2000.............................................. 292/2000 Civil Aviation (Insurance) Order (Cap. 448 Sub. Leg.) (Commencement) Notice 2000 ....................... 293/2000 Road Traffic Legislation (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 2000 (50 of 2000) (Commencement) Notice 2000.............................................. 294/2000 Other Papers No. 25 ─ The Government Minute in response to the Twelfth Annual Report of the Ombudsman issued in June 2000 No. 26 ─ Hong Kong Tourist Association Annual Report 1999/2000 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 November 2000 699 ADDRESSES PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Addresses. The Chief Secretary for Administration will address the Council on the Government Minute in response to the Twelfth Annual Report of the Ombudsman issued in June 2000. The Government Minute in response to the Twelfth Annual Report of the Ombudsman issued in June 2000 CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION (in Cantonese): Madam President, the Twelfth Annual Report of the Ombudsman was tabled to the Legislative Council on 21 June this year. The Government undertook then to prepare a Government Minute in response to the recommendations made by the Ombudsman with respect to the cases set out in Annexes 6 and 10 of the Annual Report to allow the Ombudsman and the public to monitor the implementation of the relevant recommendations by the Government and public organizations. The Government Minute is now tabled before this Council. The Government Minute covers the complaint cases into which the Ombudsman has completed investigation and in respect of which recommendations have been made, and three cases into which the Ombudsman has initiated investigation direct. Most Policy Bureaux and departments involved in these cases have fully accepted the recommendations made by the Ombudsman and taken follow-up actions. Only a few Policy Bureaux or departments involved have yet to fully accept the recommendations made by the Ombudsman due to insufficient resources or operational restraints. The reasons are set out in the Government Minute. The organizations related to the cases covered by the Government Minute include the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and the Hospital Authority. Although they are not government departments, they bear the responsibility of being accountable to the public and have provided us with information showing what follow-up actions they have taken in response to the recommendations made by the Ombudsman. The contribution made by the Ombudsman in handling public complaints against maladministration and in enhancing the quality of public administration is evident to all. We also appreciate the public aspiration for increased 700 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 November 2000 transparency and accountability of the Government. The Government will continue to endeavour to assist the Ombudsman to fulfill its duties and make joint efforts in providing public services of an even higher standard. Should Members wish the Government to further elaborate any part of the Government Minute, we will be pleased to provide the relevant information. Thank you, Madam President. PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): The Secretary for Economic Services will address the Council on the Hong Kong Tourist Association Annual Report 1999/2000. Hong Kong Tourist Association Annual Report 1999/2000 SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES (in Cantonese): Madam President, I have the pleasure to table the Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) Annual Report 1999/2000. For the year 1999-2000, the HKTA's total income was $576 million, of which over 95%, that is, $548.7 million was government subvention. On the expenditure side, total expenditure amounted to $575 million, of which $320 million was spent on marketing activities, and the rest on staff costs and other operational expenses. At present, the HKTA has offices in 14 cities and six representatives elsewhere. Apart from promoting and marketing Hong Kong as a tourist destination, these offices and representatives provide information about travel in Hong Kong to the local tourism trades and media to facilitate the arrangement of tours to Hong Kong. In the face of keen competition, the HKTA spares no effort in promoting tourism. In order to clearly define the needs of tourists, the HKIA conducted a global market research in 1999-2000 and published the "Five-Year Marketing Plan" in February this year, laying down clearly the global and regional marketing strategies and objectives. The Plan sets out the major tasks, which include attracting high-yield visitors to Hong Kong, developing new market segments, and stepping up promotion in new markets such as the Middle East and India. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 8 November 2000 701 The HKTA has been working hand in hand with the tourism authorities in the Mainland and within the Asian region to promote "multi-destination" itinerary. A prime example of success is the Pearl River Delta Tourism Marketing Organization jointly formed by the HKTA, the Guangdong Provincial Tourism Bureau and the Macau SAR Government Tourist Office. The Organization launched a website last month to provide travel information for the convenience of tourists. On overseas promotional and marketing efforts, the "Hong Kong — City of Life" marketing campaign, launched since early 1998, has borne fruit. It has successfully established a remarkable image and a prominent position for Hong Kong in overseas markets. To enhance the effectiveness of promoting Hong Kong overseas in the year ahead, the HKTA will expand the use of e-marketing and revitalize the worldwide marketing campaign — the "City of Life" Campaign. Moreover, the HKTA has optimized the use of resources, strengthened co-operation with the tourism industry, the media and the private sector, such as establishing strategic partnerships and alliances, to enhance the effectiveness of their promotion and marketing.