LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 14 July 2021 8101 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 14 July 2021 The Council met at Eleven o'clock MEMBERS PRESENT: THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE ANDREW LEUNG KWAN-YUEN, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ABRAHAM SHEK LAI-HIM, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN, G.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, S.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, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS REGINA IP LAU SUK-YEE, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE PAUL TSE WAI-CHUN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL TIEN PUK-SUN, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE STEVEN HO CHUN-YIN, B.B.S., J.P. 8102 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 14 July 2021 THE HONOURABLE FRANKIE YICK CHI-MING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE YIU SI-WING, S.B.S. THE HONOURABLE MA FUNG-KWOK, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN HAN-PAN, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG CHE-CHEUNG, S.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALICE MAK MEI-KUEN, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE KWOK WAI-KEUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER CHEUNG WAH-FUNG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ELIZABETH QUAT, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LIAO CHEUNG-KONG, G.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, G.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHUNG KWOK-PAN THE HONOURABLE JIMMY NG WING-KA, B.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE JUNIUS HO KWAN-YIU, J.P. THE HONOURABLE HOLDEN CHOW HO-DING THE HONOURABLE SHIU KA-FAI, J.P. THE HONOURABLE WILSON OR CHONG-SHING, M.H. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 14 July 2021 8103 THE HONOURABLE YUNG HOI-YAN, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PIERRE CHAN THE HONOURABLE CHAN CHUN-YING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG KWOK-KWAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LUK CHUNG-HUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU KWOK-FAN, M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE KENNETH LAU IP-KEUNG, B.B.S., M.H., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE CHENG CHUNG-TAI THE HONOURABLE VINCENT CHENG WING-SHUN, M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TONY TSE WAI-CHUEN, B.B.S., J.P. PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING: THE HONOURABLE TERESA CHENG YEUK-WAH, G.B.M., G.B.S., S.C., J.P. SECRETARY FOR JUSTICE 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 EDWARD YAU TANG-WAH, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE HONOURABLE KEVIN YEUNG YUN-HUNG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION 8104 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 14 July 2021 THE HONOURABLE ALFRED SIT WING-HANG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY THE HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER HUI CHING-YU, J.P. SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY THE HONOURABLE TANG PING-KEUNG, P.D.S.M. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY MR TSE CHIN-WAN, B.B.S., J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT MR LIU CHUN-SAN, J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT DR BERNARD CHAN PAK-LI, J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MR KENNETH CHEN WEI-ON, S.B.S., SECRETARY GENERAL MS DORA WAI, DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL MS MIRANDA HON, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MR MATTHEW LOO, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 14 July 2021 8105 PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Will the Clerk please ring the bell to summon Members to the Chamber. (After the summoning bell had been rung, a number of Members entered the Chamber) LAYING OF PAPERS ON THE TABLE OF THE COUNCIL The following papers were laid on the table under Rule 21(2) of the Rules of Procedure: Subsidiary Legislation Legal Notice No. Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule) Notice 2021 .................................................................... 109 of 2021 Peak Tramway (Safety) (Amendment) Regulation 2018 (Commencement) Notice .................................... 110 of 2021 Other Papers Prisoners' Welfare Fund Report by the Commissioner of Correctional Services on the administration of the Fund for the year ended 31 March 2021 (including Financial Statements and Report of the Director of Audit) Report of changes made to the approved Estimates of Expenditure during the third quarter of 2020-21 Public Finance Ordinance: Section 8(8)(b) Report of the Public Accounts Committee on Report No. 76 of the Director of Audit on the Results of Value for Money Audits (July 2021─P.A.C. Report No. 76) Finance Committee Report on the examination of the Estimates of Expenditure 2021-2022 Report No. 22/20-21 of the House Committee on Consideration of Subsidiary Legislation and Other Instruments 8106 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 14 July 2021 ADDRESSES PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Addresses. Mr Abraham SHEK will address the Council on the "Public Accounts Committee Report No. 76". Report of the Public Accounts Committee on Report No. 76 of the Director of Audit on the Results of Value for Money Audits (July 2021─P.A.C. Report No. 76) MR ABRAHAM SHEK: President, on behalf of the Public Accounts Committee ("the Committee"), I have the honour to table our Report No. 76. The Director of Audit's Report No. 76 ("the Audit Report") includes seven chapters which cover a variety of subjects on the administration of government programmes and the provision of public services by a total of 12 government bureaux and departments. After examining the observations contained in the Audit Report, the Committee has raised in-depth written questions with the bureaux and departments concerned. I would like to express my appreciation for the efforts made by the government units in providing detailed information for consideration by the Committee. After thorough study of the written responses, the Committee decided that a detailed investigation by way of public hearings was not required. Having said that, in the course of examining the Audit Report, it has come to the Committee's notice that there were many cases where the practices of bureaux and departments had deviated from the established procedures, guidelines or even regulations. Many recommendations in the Audit Report called for measures to be taken by these units to follow up on non-compliant and outstanding cases. The Committee urges the Administration to ensure that all bureaux and departments as well as government-funded organizations learn from the Audit Report, and implement necessary measures to correct the shortcomings and prevent further and future non-compliance. President, this is the 17th report of the Committee tabled in the Sixth Legislative Council. In the past nearly five years, the Committee has held 57 public hearings on 24 subjects, which ranged from the monitoring of public LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 14 July 2021 8107 works projects and maintenance of public rental housing flats to the provision of public toilets and management of funding for sports development. Although these subjects spread over a wide spectrum, certain common problems such as a lack of inter-departmental coordination and collaboration, inadequate supervision from bureaux over departments, issues relating to record keeping, contract administration and monitoring of public works projects were repeatedly identified by the Committee in the Director of Audit's reports. The Committee has made many conclusions and recommendations to help relevant bureaux and departments overcome these problems and achieve value for money in the delivery of public services. I would like to stress that these conclusions and recommendations are made in a constructive and forward-looking manner. All bureaux, departments and government-funded organizations should learn from the Committee's reports as well as the Director of Audit's reports to overcome such problems. The Committee also hopes that the lessons learned will enable them to improve their governance, as good governance is essential for the effective use of public funds and the continued delivery of efficient and trusted public services. Lastly, I would like to record my appreciation of the contributions made by members of the Committee. My gratitude goes to the Director of Audit and his team. The Committee cannot undertake its role and functions effectively without their unfailing support and assistance over the past five years. Thank you. PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Mr CHAN Kin-por will address the Council on the "Finance Committee Report on the examination of the Estimates of Expenditure 2021-2022". Finance Committee Report on the examination of the Estimates of Expenditure 2021-2022 MR CHAN KIN-POR (in Cantonese): President, on behalf of the Finance Committee, I submit its Report on the examination of the Estimates of Expenditure 2021-2022. 8108 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 14 July 2021 The Finance Committee held a total of 21 sessions of special meetings in the middle of April this year to examine the Estimates of Expenditure 2021-2022, with the aim to ensure that the authorities are seeking a provision no more than is necessary for the execution of the policies approved. Before the commencement of the special meetings, 42 Members submitted about 3 300 written questions on the Estimates of Expenditure, in which a relatively larger number of questions were focused on education, health, planning and lands, as well as food safety and environmental hygiene. The Administration, according to the undertaking it made earlier, submitted replies to all questions before the special meetings.