LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 November 2018 1931 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Friday, 9 November 2018 The Council continued to meet at Nine o'clock MEMBERS PRESENT: THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE ANDREW LEUNG KWAN-YUEN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN THE HONOURABLE LEUNG YIU-CHUNG THE HONOURABLE ABRAHAM SHEK LAI-HIM, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN, G.B.S., J.P. PROF THE HONOURABLE JOSEPH LEE KOK-LONG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JEFFREY LAM KIN-FUNG, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG TING-KWONG, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE STARRY LEE WAI-KING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN HAK-KAN, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN KIN-POR, G.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PRISCILLA LEUNG MEI-FUN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-KIN, S.B.S., J.P. 1932 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 November 2018 THE HONOURABLE MRS REGINA IP LAU SUK-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE PAUL TSE WAI-CHUN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CLAUDIA MO THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL TIEN PUK-SUN, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE STEVEN HO CHUN-YIN, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE FRANKIE YICK CHI-MING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WU CHI-WAI, M.H. THE HONOURABLE YIU SI-WING, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE MA FUNG-KWOK, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHARLES PETER MOK, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN CHI-CHUEN THE HONOURABLE CHAN HAN-PAN, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG CHE-CHEUNG, S.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE KENNETH LEUNG THE HONOURABLE ALICE MAK MEI-KUEN, B.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE KWOK KA-KI THE HONOURABLE KWOK WAI-KEUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE DENNIS KWOK WING-HANG THE HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER CHEUNG WAH-FUNG, S.B.S., J.P. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 November 2018 1933 DR THE HONOURABLE FERNANDO CHEUNG CHIU-HUNG DR THE HONOURABLE HELENA WONG PIK-WAN THE HONOURABLE IP KIN-YUEN DR THE HONOURABLE ELIZABETH QUAT, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE POON SIU-PING, B.B.S., M.H. DR THE HONOURABLE CHIANG LAI-WAN, S.B.S., J.P. IR DR THE HONOURABLE LO WAI-KWOK, S.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHUNG KWOK-PAN THE HONOURABLE ALVIN YEUNG THE HONOURABLE ANDREW WAN SIU-KIN THE HONOURABLE CHU HOI-DICK THE HONOURABLE JIMMY NG WING-KA, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE JUNIUS HO KWAN-YIU, J.P. THE HONOURABLE HO KAI-MING THE HONOURABLE LAM CHEUK-TING THE HONOURABLE HOLDEN CHOW HO-DING THE HONOURABLE SHIU KA-FAI THE HONOURABLE SHIU KA-CHUN THE HONOURABLE WILSON OR CHONG-SHING, M.H. 1934 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 November 2018 THE HONOURABLE YUNG HOI-YAN DR THE HONOURABLE PIERRE CHAN THE HONOURABLE CHAN CHUN-YING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG KWOK-KWAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE HUI CHI-FUNG THE HONOURABLE LUK CHUNG-HUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU KWOK-FAN, M.H. THE HONOURABLE KENNETH LAU IP-KEUNG, B.B.S., M.H., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE CHENG CHUNG-TAI THE HONOURABLE KWONG CHUN-YU THE HONOURABLE JEREMY TAM MAN-HO THE HONOURABLE GARY FAN KWOK-WAI THE HONOURABLE AU NOK-HIN THE HONOURABLE VINCENT CHENG WING-SHUN, M.H. THE HONOURABLE TONY TSE WAI-CHUEN, B.B.S. MEMBERS ABSENT: THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LIAO CHEUNG-KONG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TANYA CHAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 November 2018 1935 PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING: THE HONOURABLE WONG KAM-SING, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, AND CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION THE HONOURABLE PAUL CHAN MO-PO, G.B.M., G.B.S., M.H., J.P. FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE MS TERESA CHENG YEUK-WAH, G.B.S., S.C., J.P. SECRETARY FOR JUSTICE THE HONOURABLE NICHOLAS W. YANG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY THE HONOURABLE LAU KONG-WAH, J.P. SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS THE HONOURABLE JAMES HENRY LAU JR., J.P. SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY DR THE HONOURABLE LAW CHI-KWONG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND WELFARE THE HONOURABLE JOSHUA LAW CHI-KONG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE THE HONOURABLE JOHN LEE KA-CHIU, S.B.S., P.D.S.M., J.P. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY THE HONOURABLE FRANK CHAN FAN, J.P. SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING PROF THE HONOURABLE SOPHIA CHAN SIU-CHEE, J.P. SECRETARY FOR FOOD AND HEALTH THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL WONG WAI-LUN, J.P. SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT 1936 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 November 2018 THE HONOURABLE KEVIN YEUNG YUN-HUNG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION THE HONOURABLE PATRICK NIP TAK-KUEN, J.P. SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AND MAINLAND AFFAIRS MR TSE CHIN-WAN, B.B.S., J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT MR SONNY AU CHI-KWONG, P.D.S.M., J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR SECURITY MR LIU CHUN-SAN, J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT DR BERNARD CHAN PAK-LI, J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MR JACK CHAN JICK-CHI, J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS DR RAYMOND SO WAI-MAN, B.B.S., J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MR KENNETH CHEN WEI-ON, S.B.S., SECRETARY GENERAL MISS ODELIA LEUNG HING-YEE, DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL MS ANITA SIT, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MS DORA WAI, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MR MATTHEW LOO, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 November 2018 1937 MEMBER'S MOTION PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Council now continues with the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the Policy Address. MOTION OF THANKS Continuation of debate on motion which was moved on 7 November 2018 MR YIU SI-WING (in Cantonese): President, the problem of insufficient housing and land supply has beset Hong Kong for a long time. It is a livelihood issue that members of the public are most concerned about, and that the SAR Government has attached the greatest importance and accorded the top priority to seek a solution. In recent years, the Government has put forth proposals on land formation and land resumption. Regretfully, as these proposals have been obstructed time and again by the opposition camp for various reasons, or have been labelled as collusion between the Government and business, most of the initiatives have come to a standstill. The Government put forward the North East New Territories development proposal in as early as 1998, and raised the proposal again in 2008. However, due to ongoing political disputes over the years and the numerous difficulties involved in approving the kick-off grants by the Legislative Council, the Government has yet to commence land resumption procedures today. During the tenure of the last term government, a think tank suggested exploring the feasibility of developing the land on the periphery of country parks. The suggestion was immediately met with opposition from various organizations. The opposition camp even took advantage of the opportunity and encouraged members of the public to apply for legal aid to initiate judicial reviews, so as to impede the proposal. Regarding the use of private agricultural land in the New Territories, come to think about this: land resumption, compensation and resettlement not only require the injection of funds, but also public-private collaboration to ensure successful development. Yet development projects involving private agricultural land are too often labelled as collusion between the Government and business, resulting in a lot of agricultural land being left idle and undeveloped for years. 1938 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 November 2018 Many Members pointed out that the Government should develop brownfield sites before talking about reclamation. This sounds easy but many problems have to be solved before development can take place. Most brownfield sites are scattered and not every brownfield site has the potential for high-density development. Fragmented development can hardly achieve economies of scale. Moreover, since most brownfield sites are privately owned, their development will not only involve land resumption and compensation, but also rehousing and compensation for squatter residents and occupants of the sites concerned. The resumption procedures are lengthy, costly and the process is challenging and controversial. The Chief Executive announced the Lantau Tomorrow Vision in this year's Policy Address. I consider the proposal better than the existing land acquisition proposals in terms of cost control, time frame and long-term benefits. While reclamation and infrastructure development certainly entail considerable costs, we should bear in mind that the overall benefits brought about by the substantial area of reclaimed land, such as land sales and tax revenue, business and employment opportunities, will definitely be much higher than the amount invested. Hong Kong has many successful examples of reclamation, for example, Central, Wan Chai, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kai Tak Airport, Sha Tin, Ma On Shan, Tung Chung and Chek Lap Kok Airport are all built on reclaimed land. These areas play an important role in respect of Hong Kong's economic development and its status as a financial centre. Take for example our neighbour Singapore, it is 30% smaller than Hong Kong in ground area, and 22% of its land are reclaimed from the sea. The fact that Singaporeans can live happily in affordable HDB flats of over 1 000 sq ft and have other housing options is closely related to its comprehensive and long-term reclamation plans. President, the Government has proposed to first carry out reclamation in Kau Yi Chau for 1 000 hectares of land. The reclamation, expected to be completed in phases, will accommodate a population of 700 000 to 1 100 000 by 2032.