(Translation)

Minutes of the 17th Meeting of the Community Affairs Committee of District Council (5th Term)

Date: 20 September 2018 (Thursday) Time: 9:30 a.m. Venue: Conference Room, Sham Shui Po District Council

Present

Chairman Mr LEE Wing-man

Members Mr CHAN Kwok-wai (Arrived at 9:54 a.m.) Ms CHAN Wing-yan, Joephy (Arrived at 9:50 a.m.) Mr CHENG Wing-shun, Vincent, MH (Arrived at 9:45 a.m., left at 10:43 a.m.) Mr CHEUNG Wing-sum, Ambrose, BBS, MH, JP (Arrived at 10:10 a.m.) Ms CHOW Wing-heng, Zoé (Left at 10:40 a.m.) Mr CHUM Tak-shing (Arrived at 10:35 a.m., left at 11:05 a.m.) Mr HO Kai-ming, Kalvin Mr KONG Kwai-sang (Arrived at 9:50 a.m.) Mr LAM Ka-fai, Aaron, BBS, JP Ms LAU Pui-yuk Mr LEE Tsz-king, Dominic (Arrived at 10:10 a.m.) Mr LEUNG Man-kwong Ms NG Mei, Carman (Arrived at 10:00 a.m., left at 11:00 a.m.) Ms NG Yuet-lan Mr TAM Kwok-kiu, MH, JP (Left at 11:05 a.m.) Mr WAI Woon-nam Mr YAN Kai-wing

Co-opted Members Ms LAM Po-yu Mr LI Kam-kuen Mr TSANG Tsz-ming

In Attendance Miss MAN Ka-wing, Kelly Assistant District Officer (Sham Shui Po) 1 Ms CHAN Tsz-yee, Emily Senior Liaison Officer 1, Sham Shui Po District Office Ms FUNG Ho-yin Community Relations Officer, Kowloon West Regional Office, - 2 - Action by

Independent Commission Against Corruption Ms TING Wai, Catherine Acting Housing Manager (Kowloon West and Sai Kung 8), Housing Department Mr HO Wai-lun Neighbourhood Police Coordinator, Police Community Relations Office, Sham Shui Po District, Police Force Ms LO Ying-yue, Anna Senior School Development Officer (Sham Shui Po) 1, Education Bureau Ms LEUNG Wai-ling, Betty Assistant District Social Welfare Officer (Sham Shui Po) 2, Social Welfare Department Ms HO Wing-sze, Marianna Senior Manager (Kowloon West/Cultural Services), Leisure and Cultural Services Department Ms LAU Siu-mui, Lily Manager (Kowloon West) Marketing, Programme and District Activities, Leisure and Cultural Services Department Mr YEUNG Chi-kuen, Roy Assistant District Leisure Manager (Sham Shui Po) District Support, Leisure and Cultural Services Department Miss CHAN Wai-yam, Eunice Senior Librarian (Sham Shui Po), Leisure and Cultural Services Department Dr CHUNG Hiu-wah, Jennifer Medical and Health Officer (Community Liaison) 2, Department of Health

Secretary Miss NG Ka-fu, Kathy Executive Officer (District Council) 2, Sham Shui Po District Office

Absent with Apologies

Member Mr LEUNG Yau-fong

Absent

Members Mr CHAN Wai-ming, MH, JP Mr WONG Tat-tung, Dennis, MH, JP Mr YEUNG Yuk

Co-opted Member Mr WONG Wing-wai

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Opening Remarks

The Chairman welcomed all members and representatives of government departments to this meeting and also welcomed Mr HO Wai-lun, Neighbourhood Police Coordinator from the Police Community Relations Office of Sham Shui Po District of the Hong Kong Police Force, who attended this meeting in place of Mr CHAN Wai-kwong, and Ms FUNG Ho-yin, Community Relations Officer from the Kowloon West Regional Office of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, who attended this meeting in place of Ms LAM Suk-wah, Amy.

2. The Committee noted the absence application from Mr LEUNG Yau-fong.

Agenda Item 1: Confirmation of minutes of the 16th meeting held on 5 July 2018

3. The Committee confirmed the above minutes without amendment.

Agenda Item 2: Matters for discussion

(a) Request for improvement to the dental services for the elderly in Sham Shui Po District (CAC Paper 71/18)

4. Ms Zoé CHOW introduced Paper 71/18.

5. Dr Jennifer CHUNG introduced Response Paper 87/18.

6. The Chairman said that before the meeting, the Secretariat had invited the Food and Health Bureau (“FHB”) and the Hospital Authority (“HA”) to attend the meeting, but they could not send a representative to attend the meeting. He asked members to refer to the relevant written responses (Papers 84/18 and 87/18).

7. Mr TAM Kwok-kiu raised the following views: (i) he was dissatisfied that the departments did not send representative to attend the meeting and considered that the Government disregard the importance of the District Council (“DC”) and primary dental services; (ii) according to a study on liveable cities, Hong Kong was less favourable than China in terms of medical services; (iii) the grassroots had a keen demand for dental services and Hong Kong was financially viable to provide the services. He hoped that the departments would value the opinions and provide dental services to the grassroots. - 4 - Action by

8. Mr WAI Woon-nam raised the following views: (i) he considered that government dental clinics should not only serve civil servants; (ii) although the eligible age for the Elderly Dental Assistance Programme under the Community Care Fund was gradually lowered, still not all elderly people were covered. Eligible elderly people were also required to make an application for the assistance; (iii) he hoped that FHB and HA could formulate policies to provide dental services to the elderly in the district.

9. Ms NG Yuet-lan raised the following views: (i) some elderly people could not afford the treatment fees. Even though they had dental problems, they would not seek medical treatment. In the Community Participating Round Table Meeting (“Round Table Meeting”), elderly people listed dental services as one of the most needed services. There were many elderly people in the district and she hoped that the relevant departments could set up a dental hospital in the district; (ii) she was dissatisfied that the Government did not expand public dental services with fiscal surplus, and that HA did not send a representative to attend the meeting.

10. Mr YAN Kai-wing raised the following views and enquiries: (i) as teeth would deteriorate with age, dental services should be provided to the elderly as early as possible. He suggested that the Community Care Fund should lower the eligible age for the assistance to 60 years old; (ii) he enquired about the data on the demand of elderly people for dental assistance (such as the assistance of the Community Care Fund), and whether the Government was financially capable of providing elderly dental services.

11. Mr Kalvin HO raised the following views and enquiries: (i) he enquired the reasons the Government only provided emergency dental services to the public; (ii) elderly people generally could not afford the fees of private dental services and the amount of health care vouchers was not sufficient to pay the fees. He hoped that the Government could allocate more resources to provide comprehensive dental services to the public.

12. Mr KONG Kwai-sang raised the following views: (i) he considered that the Government should not shift the responsibility for provision of dental services to the private sector. Also, he did not understand why the Government did not provide subsidised dental services to the public; (ii) he hoped that the Government could provide affordable public dental services.

13. Mr LI Kam-kuen raised the following views and enquiries: (i) he asked whether - 5 - Action by there were adequate dentists in Hong Kong to cope with demand, and about the ratio of dentists to the population. If there were insufficient dentists in Hong Kong, he asked whether overseas dentists would be allowed to practise in Hong Kong and whether the number of places of dentistry degree in Hong Kong could be increased; (ii) the eligible age for dental assistance should be lowered to allow the public to prevent dental diseases timely.

14. Mr LEUNG Man-kwong raised the following views: (i) according to the Response Paper, the provision of comprehensive public dental services might create heavy financial burden to the Government; (ii) members of the public in the young and middle age groups might not be able to afford the fees of private dentists for regular check-ups, and the Government did not provide relevant dental care knowledge and services. As a result, they might suffer from serious dental problems when they got old; (iii) he hoped that the Government could provide public dental services to the elderly and devote more resources to train more dentists.

15. Ms Zoé CHOW raised the following views: (i) if the Government took the lead in training dentists and provided public dental services, she believed that it would increase the level of dental services in Hong Kong; (ii) the amount of health care vouchers was only $2,000 per annum, she hoped that the Government could provide elderly dental services so that elderly people could use health care vouchers for other services.

16. Mr Ambrose CHEUNG raised the following views: (i) the Government should immediately allocate more resources to the 18 districts so that mobile dental services and ophthalmology services, etc. could be provided in each district instantly; (ii) in the short run, non-governmental organisations could provide the services concerned to meet some of the medical needs in the district. In the long run, he hoped that the Government could provide public dental services.

17. Dr Jennifer CHUNG noted members’ views and would relay the views to the parties concerned.

18. Mr YAN Kai-wing said that the departments concerned should send a representative to attend the Committee meetings to respond to members’ enquiries. He suggested including the paper as a follow-up item until the departments concerned sent a representative to attend the Committee meetings. - 6 - Action by

19. Ms Zoé CHOW suggested setting up a working group to follow up this item.

20. Mr TAM Kwok-kiu raised the following views: (i) dental services were one of the follow-up items of the Round Table Meeting. As DC had vetoed the continuation of the Round Table Meeting, a new platform would be needed to follow up on the item. Therefore, he supported the proposal of setting up a working group; (ii) he hoped that the Department of Health could review the use of resources and solicit more resources from the Government. He considered that the Government should allocate more resources to provide comprehensive dental services; (iii) he considered that the Committee’s views on dental services should be relayed to the Government when the Policy Address was under preparation.

21. Mr Ambrose CHEUNG raised the following views: (i) he agreed that the Committee’s views on dental services should be relayed to the Government when the Policy Address was under preparation; (ii) as the departments did not respond to members’ views, he hoped that this item could be included as a follow-up item so that it could be followed up; (iii) as this item was a policy issue, it was more appropriate to be taken forth at the meetings of the Committee or DC.

22. Ms Carman NG suggested that the Working Group on Elderly and Rehabilitation Services (“WGERS”) invite the organisations related to the Round Table Meeting to join WGERS and the funding of WGERS be used to provide mobile dental services to people in the district.

23. Mr TAM Kwok-kiu said that the follow-up on dental services in the district could be included in the terms of reference of WGERS and the organisations of the Round Table Meeting could be invited to join WGERS.

24. Mr Ambrose CHEUNG said that the costs for providing mobile dental services were high, but the Government should still provide resources to each district for introducing the services.

25. The Chairman concluded as follows: (i) there was a lack of comprehensive public dental services in Hong Kong, and in the long run, efforts at the policy level were required to solve the problems; (ii) it was suggested that the relevant departments introduce short-term measures to alleviate the demand for dental services, such as providing health care vouchers designated for elderly dental services; (iii) he would - 7 - Action by include this item as a follow-up item until FHB and HA sent a representative to attend the Committee meetings and would write to them after the meeting to request them to send a representative to attend the next meeting.

26. Mr TAM Kwok-kiu hoped to continue to follow up on this item through setting up a working group or expanding the terms of reference of WGERS.

27. The Chairman responded that he hoped that the item could be followed up by the Committee first. After the policy and arrangements concerned were put in place, the item could be passed to the relevant working group for follow up, subject to circumstances.

28. Mr TAM Kwok-kiu did not agree with the Chairman’s conclusion on this paper but he respected the Chairman’s stance.

(b) Dental treatment for recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme (CAC Paper 72/18)

29. Mr TAM Kwok-kiu introduced Paper 72/18.

30. The Chairman said that before the meeting, the Secretariat had invited HA to attend the meeting, but the Authority could not send a representative to attend the meeting. He asked members to refer to the relevant written response (Paper 85/18).

31. Ms Betty LEUNG introduced Response Paper 83/18 and added that under the current Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme (“CSSA Scheme”), the grants for dental treatment were restricted to the recipients who were old, disabled or medically certified to be in ill health. However, some approved non-governmental organisations, such as Project Concern Hong Kong in Sham Shui Po, often introduced dental assistance schemes to subsidise the low-income group to receive dental services.

32. Mr TAM Kwok-kiu said that all recipients of CSSA Scheme should receive the same treatment regardless of whether they were old, disabled or medically certified to be in ill health. However, this was not the case with the policy of the Social Welfare Department (“SWD”), which might constitute discrimination. He hoped to request the relevant policy bureau to rectify the unfair treatment through the public consultation for the Policy Address. - 8 - Action by

33. Mr YAN Kai-wing raised the following views and enquiries: (i) medical practitioners might not provide certification to the recipients of CSSA Scheme who were in ill health; (ii) he considered that CSSA Scheme should provide dental assistance to its recipients and asked why SWD did not provide dental assistance.

34. Ms Betty LEUNG responded that members’ views involved policy and resource issues and she would relay the views to the responsible service branch.

35. Mr TAM Kwok-kiu raised the following views: (i) recipients of CSSA Scheme were mostly “the elderly, the infirm and the disabled” who should prevent dental problems early; (ii) he requested SWD to explain why able-bodied recipients of CSSA Scheme did not have dental assistance.

36. The Chairman concluded as follows: (i) he would write to the Labour and Welfare Bureau after the meeting to request the Bureau to confirm the implementation of short-term and long-term measures in the Policy Address as soon as possible to provide suitable dental services to the public; (ii) in the short run, the Government should use the surplus to alleviate the demand for dental services; in the long run, the Government should formulate policies to address the medical problems caused by the shortage of dentists, etc.; (iii) he would include this item as a follow-up item and request the relevant department to attend the next meeting.

(c) Report by LCSD on recreational and sports activities organised in Sham Shui Po District (CAC Paper 73/18)

37. Mr Roy YEUNG introduced Paper 73/18.

38. The Chairman concluded that the Committee noted the contents of the report.

(d) Report by LCSD on district free entertainment programmes and district arts and cultural activities in Sham Shui Po District (CAC Paper 74/18)

39. Ms Marianna HO introduced Paper 74/18.

40. The Chairman concluded that the Committee noted the contents of the report.

(e) Report by LCSD on the extension activities and utilisation of public libraries in - 9 - Action by

Sham Shui Po District (CAC Paper 75/18)

41. Miss Eunice CHAN introduced Paper 75/18.

42. The Chairman concluded that the Committee noted the contents of the report.

Agenda Item 3: Reports from Working Groups under the Committee

(a) Vetting Sub-Committee (CAC Papers 76/18 and 77/18)

(b) Working Group on Elderly and Rehabilitation Services (CAC Paper 78/18)

43. The Committee noted and endorsed the above working group reports.

Agenda Item 4: Any other business

(a) Having a finger severed, the patient was not treated for it because of old age?! (CAC Paper 82/18)

44. Mr YAN Kai-wing asked whether the Caritas Medical Centre (“CMC”) had sent a representative to attend the meeting.

45. The Chairman said that before the meeting, the Secretariat had invited HA to attend the meeting but the Authority could not send a representative to attend this meeting. He asked members to refer to the relevant written response (Paper 86/18).

46. Mr YAN Kai-wing raised the following views: (i) as CMC had not sent a representative to attend the meeting, he did not plan to discuss this paper at the meeting; (ii) what the representative of CMC had said at the last DC meeting did not tally with the statement of the injured, therefore he submitted the paper to the Committee hoping to initiate a discussion; (iii) he suggested further discussing the matter at the next meeting of the Committee or DC.

47. The Chairman concluded that it was suggested that consideration be given to the submission of this matter to DC for discussion at its meetings. If necessary, the Committee could have further discussion at the next meeting. - 10 - Action by

(b) 2018/2019 Sham Shui Po District Council Allocation Monitoring Programme – LCSD 4th Quarter Activities Sampling Assessment

48. The Chairman picked the following three activities randomly for monitoring by drawing lots:

Priority/Category Activities Date

1. Recreational and sports Sport for All – Gateball 16 January to 13 activities Training Course February 2019

2. District free Variety Show 2 March 2019 entertainment programmes

3. Public library extension Storytelling for Children 16 February 2019 activities

(c) 2018/2019 Sham Shui Po District Council Allocation Monitoring Programme – LCSD 1st Quarter Activities Assessment Report (CAC Papers 79/18 to 81/18)

49. The Committee noted and endorsed the above three assessment reports.

(d) Funding applications to Vetting Sub-Committee (CAC Paper 77/18)

50. The Chairman stated that the Vetting Sub-committee (“VSC”), at its meeting on 8 August this year, had vetted the applications for reserved funds and non-reserved funds for organising activities during the period from 1 October to 31 December 2018, and endorsed an allocation of $2,821,488 of reserved funds for organising 54 activities and an allocation of $823,019 of non-reserved funds for organising 35 activities. The applications for reserved funds and non-reserved funds were listed in Annex A and Annex B respectively. He asked members to consider whether to endorse the funding applications and reminded members to make declarations of interest according to the Sham Shui Po District Council Standing Orders.

Application No: 180227 – 180257, 180350 - 11 - Action by

51. The Committee endorsed the above funding applications.

Application No: 180258 – 180260

52. Ms LAM Po-yu declared interests, stating that she was a committee member of Sham Shui Po Council for the Promotion of Cultural and Recreational Services Limited.

53. The Chairman ruled that as there were substantive duties in the position, Ms LAM Po-yu could not participate in the discussion, decision-making and voting, but did not need to withdraw from the meeting.

54. The Committee endorsed the above funding applications.

Application No: 180261 – 180274

55. The Committee endorsed the above funding applications.

Application No: 180275

56. Ms LAM Po-yu declared interests, stating that she was a member of the Cultural Committee of Sham Shui Po Arts Association Limited.

57. The Chairman ruled that as there were substantive duties in the position, Ms LAM Po-yu could not participate in the discussion, decision-making and voting, but did not need to withdraw from the meeting.

58. The Committee endorsed the above funding application.

Application No: 180276

59. Ms LAM Po-yu declared interests, stating that she was a committee member of Sham Shui Po Arts Association Limited.

60. The Chairman ruled that as there were substantive duties in the position, Ms LAM Po-yu could not participate in the discussion, decision-making and voting, but did not need to withdraw from the meeting. - 12 - Action by

61. The Committee endorsed the above funding application.

Application No: 180277

62. Ms LAM Po-yu declared interests, stating that she was a member of the Committee on Cultural and Leisure Activities of Sham Shui Po Arts Association Limited.

63. The Chairman ruled that as there were substantive duties in the position, Ms LAM Po-yu could not participate in the discussion, decision-making and voting, but did not need to withdraw from the meeting.

64. The Committee endorsed the above funding application.

Application No: 180278

65. Ms LAM Po-yu declared interests, stating that she was a member of the Cultural Committee of Sham Shui Po Arts Association Limited.

66. The Chairman ruled that as there were substantive duties in the position, Ms LAM Po-yu could not participate in the discussion, decision-making and voting, but did not need to withdraw from the meeting.

67. The Committee endorsed the above funding application.

Application No: 180279, 180281

68. The Committee endorsed the above funding applications.

Application No: 180282

69. Ms LAU Pui-yuk declared interests, stating that she was a Consultant of Sham Shui Po Neighbourhood Cares Association.

70. The Chairman ruled that as there were no substantive duties in the position, Ms LAU Pui-yuk could participate in the discussion, decision-making and voting.

71. Mr CHAN Kwok-wai declared interests, stating that he had been the - 13 - Action by

Vice-chairman of Sham Shui Po Neighbourhood Cares Association before, but he had resigned.

72. The Chairman said that Mr CHAN Kwok-wai had repeatedly stated that he had resigned from the position of the Vice-chairman of Sham Shui Po Neighbourhood Care Society on different occasions, and was not required to make the declaration again.

73. The Committee endorsed the above funding application.

Application No: 180283

74. Ms LAU Pui-yuk declared interests, stating that she had been the Treasurer of Friends of Nam Cheong East before, but she had resigned.

75. The Chairman said that as Ms LAU Pui-yuk had resigned, no declaration was required.

76. The Committee endorsed the above funding application.

Application No: 180285

77. The Committee endorsed the above funding application.

Application No: 180286

78. Mr Kalvin HO declared interests, stating that he was a Vice-chairman of Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People’s Livelihood.

79. Mr KONG Kwai-sang declared interests, stating that he was a member of Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People’s Livelihood.

80. The Chairman ruled that as there were substantive duties in the positions of Mr Kalvin HO and Mr KONG Kwai-sang, they could not participate in the discussion, decision-making and voting, but did not need to withdraw from the meeting.

81. The Committee endorsed the above funding application. - 14 - Action by

Application No: 180287

82. The Committee endorsed the above funding application.

Application No: 180288

83. Ms NG Yuet-lan declared interests, stating that she was a member of Cohesive Singing Society.

84. The Chairman ruled that as there were no substantive duties in the position, Ms NG Yuet-lan could participate in the discussion, decision-making and voting.

85. The Committee endorsed the above funding application.

Application No: 180289 – 180291, 180293

86. The Committee endorsed the above funding applications.

Application No: 180294

87. Ms LAM Po-yu declared interests, stating that she was the President of Nam Wan Opera Musical Troupe.

88. The Chairman ruled that as there were substantive duties in the position, Ms LAM Po-yu could not participate in the discussion, decision-making and voting, but did not need to withdraw from the meeting.

89. The Committee endorsed the above funding application.

Application No: 180295 – 180298, 180301

90. The Committee endorsed the above funding applications.

Application No: 180302

91. Ms LAM Po-yu declared interests, stating that she was a committee member of Cheung Sha Wan Kai Fong Welfare Association Limited. - 15 - Action by

92. Mr Aaron LAM declared interests, stating that he was the Honorary President of Cheung Sha Wan Kai Fong Welfare Association Limited.

93. The Chairman ruled that as there were substantive duties in the position of Ms LAM Po-yu, she could not participate in the discussion, decision-making and voting, but did not need to withdraw from the meeting; as there were no substantive duties in the position of Mr Aaron LAM, he could participate in the discussion, decision-making and voting.

94. The Committee endorsed the above funding application.

Application No: 180303, 180306

95. The Committee endorsed the above funding applications.

Application No: 180308

96. Ms LAM Po-yu declared interests, stating that she was the Honorary Chairman of Sound Plus Song Association.

97. The Chairman ruled that as there were no substantive duties in the position, Ms LAM Po-yu could participate in the discussion, decision-making and voting.

98. The Committee endorsed the above funding application.

Application No: 180309

99. The Committee endorsed the above funding application.

Application No: 180325 – 180330

100. The Committee endorsed the above funding applications.

Application No: 180331

101. Ms NG Yuet-lan declared interests, stating that she was the Chairman of Merlin Centre Owners’ Corporation. - 16 - Action by

102. The Chairman ruled that as there were substantive duties in the position, Ms NG Yuet-lan could not participate in the discussion, decision-making and voting, but did not need to withdraw from the meeting.

103. The Committee endorsed the above funding application.

Application No: 180333 – 180338

104. The Committee endorsed the above funding applications.

Agenda Item 5: Date of next meeting

105. The next meeting would be held at 9:30 a.m. on 22 November 2018 (Thursday).

106. There being no other business, the meeting ended at 11:43 a.m.

District Council Secretariat Sham Shui Po District Office November 2018