OFFICIAL RECORD of PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 26
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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 May 2021 6159 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 26 May 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, 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. THE HONOURABLE MRS REGINA IP LAU SUK-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE PAUL TSE WAI-CHUN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL TIEN PUK-SUN, B.B.S., J.P. 6160 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 May 2021 THE HONOURABLE STEVEN HO CHUN-YIN, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE FRANKIE YICK CHI-MING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE YIU SI-WING, B.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, S.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. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 May 2021 6161 THE HONOURABLE WILSON OR CHONG-SHING, M.H. 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. 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 MATTHEW CHEUNG KIN-CHUNG, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION THE HONOURABLE TERESA CHENG YEUK-WAH, G.B.S., S.C., J.P. SECRETARY FOR JUSTICE THE HONOURABLE WONG KAM-SING, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT DR THE HONOURABLE LAW CHI-KWONG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND WELFARE 6162 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 May 2021 THE HONOURABLE KEVIN YEUNG YUN-HUNG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION THE HONOURABLE ERICK TSANG KWOK-WAI, I.D.S.M., J.P. SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AND MAINLAND AFFAIRS THE HONOURABLE CASPAR TSUI YING-WAI, J.P. SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS MR HO KAI-MING, J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND WELFARE 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 ― 26 May 2021 6163 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. Air Pollution Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (Commencement) Notice .................................... 67 of 2021 Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 (Commencement) Notice .................................... 68 of 2021 Designation of Libraries (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2021 .......................................................... 71 of 2021 Other Papers Securities and Futures Commission Approved budget of income and expenditure for the financial year 2021/2022 Correctional Services Children's Education Trust Report by the Trustee, Financial Statements and Report of the Director of Audit for the year of 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020 The Government Minute in response to the Report of the Public Accounts Committee No. 75 of February 2021 Report of the Bills Committee on Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021 6164 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 May 2021 ADDRESS PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Address. The Chief Secretary for Administration will address the Council on "The Government Minute in response to the Report of the Public Accounts Committee No. 75". The Government Minute in response to the Report of the Public Accounts Committee No. 75 of February 2021 CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION (in Cantonese): President, I lay on the table at this Council today the Government Minute responding to Report No. 75 of the Public Accounts Committee ("PAC") which was presented to the Legislative Council on 24 February this year. I welcome the Report of PAC and am sincerely grateful for the time and efforts devoted by the Chairman of PAC, Mr Abraham SHEK, and members of PAC. The Government accepts PAC's various recommendations and sets out in detail in the Government Minute the specific responses of the relevant bureaux and departments. The Report of PAC provides recommendations on areas covered in the following seven chapters in Report No. 75 of the Director of Audit: (a) Acquisition and management of collection items in public museums; (b) Energy efficiency and conservation in government buildings; (c) Funding schemes for conservation of built heritage managed by the Development Bureau; (d) Hong Kong Tourism Board: Corporate governance and administrative issues; (e) Hong Kong Tourism Board: Efforts in promoting tourism; (f) Management of Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme by the Buildings Department; and (g) Provision of humanitarian assistance to non-refoulement claimants by the Social Welfare Department. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 May 2021 6165 I would like to highlight the key measures taken and progress made by the relevant government departments and organizations in response to the recommendations of PAC. On the acquisition and management of collection items in public museums, the Hong Kong Museum of History, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Hong Kong Film Archive have put in place measures to improve the accession of collection items, including streamlining the accessioning information and procedures, engaging additional manpower, and reporting accessioning progress on a monthly basis. These measures expedite the process of accession of collection items and enhance monitoring, with a view to completing the relevant work within or ahead of schedule. In response to the shortage of museum storage space, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department ("LCSD") plans to build a Heritage Conservation and Resource Centre for centralized conservation of museum collection items and organizing exhibitions, public education and academic activities and more. The project received support from the District Council in February this year. LCSD will submit the funding application for the construction works to the Legislative Council in due course. Regarding energy efficiency and conservation in government buildings, the Environment Bureau, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department ("EMSD") and the Architectural Services Department have taken measures to implement the relevant recommendations of the Audit Commission and PAC. For instance, EMSD has applied the experience gained from implementing the 2015-2020 electricity saving target and the findings in the Audit Report when taking forward its work relating to green energy. EMSD has issued guidelines on normalization of energy consumption and will keep track of the measures implemented by bureaux and departments to help them achieve the Green Energy Target. Relevant departments have also stepped up the management of energy saving projects and rolled out other measures recommended by the Audit Commission and PAC, such as including more government buildings in the retro-commissioning plan. On the funding schemes for conservation of built heritage, the Development Bureau ("DEVB") has so far launched six batches of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme ("the Revitalisation Scheme"), covering 22 government-owned historic buildings. Ten of these 6166 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 26 May 2021 projects are in operation. These projects revitalize and reuse historic buildings for various purposes, such as a hostel, a café, training facilities and a Chinese medical clinic. In this way, not only are these historic buildings preserved and put to good use, but they are also given a new lease of life. Members of the public are welcome to visit and appreciate these historic buildings. As at February 2021, over 7.2 million people had visited the revitalized buildings under Batches I to III of the Revitalisation Scheme. DEVB reviews different aspects of the Revitalisation Scheme from time to time and has introduced improvement measures. They include enhancement of the Guide to Application, simplifying the application procedures, refining the assessment process, and organizing workshops and experience sharing sessions for interested organizations. DEVB will continue to explore improvement measures to further enhance the Revitalization Scheme, taking into account the recommendations in the Audit Report, the management experience gained from the implementation of the Revitalisation Scheme, the operating situation of the non-profit-making organizations, and other factors. As for the governance and promotion work of the Hong Kong Tourism Board ("HKTB"), the Government attaches great importance to the corporate governance of HKTB as a statutory body. Good corporate governance is crucial to HKTB's efficient and effective operation, as well as the discharge of its pivotal role in supporting the recovery of Hong Kong's tourism industry after the epidemic while driving the long-term development of the tourism sector in Hong Kong.