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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 6 May 2009 7215 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 6 May 2009 The Council met at Eleven o'clock MEMBERS PRESENT: THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE JASPER TSANG YOK-SING, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALBERT HO CHUN-YAN IR DR THE HONOURABLE RAYMOND HO CHUNG-TAI, S.B.S., S.B.ST.J., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEE CHEUK-YAN DR THE HONOURABLE DAVID LI KWOK-PO, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE FRED LI WAH-MING, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE MARGARET NG THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG MAN-KWONG THE HONOURABLE CHAN KAM-LAM, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS SOPHIE LEUNG LAU YAU-FUN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG YIU-CHUNG DR THE HONOURABLE PHILIP WONG YU-HONG, G.B.S. THE HONOURABLE LAU KONG-WAH, J.P. 7216 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 6 May 2009 THE HONOURABLE LAU WONG-FAT, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MIRIAM LAU KIN-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE EMILY LAU WAI-HING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE ANDREW CHENG KAR-FOO THE HONOURABLE TAM YIU-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ABRAHAM SHEK LAI-HIM, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LI FUNG-YING, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE AUDREY EU YUET-MEE, S.C., J.P. THE HONOURABLE VINCENT FANG KANG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-HING, M.H. THE HONOURABLE LEE WING-TAT DR THE HONOURABLE JOSEPH LEE KOK-LONG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE JEFFREY LAM KIN-FUNG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ANDREW LEUNG KWAN-YUEN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALAN LEONG KAH-KIT, S.C. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG KWOK-HUNG THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG HOK-MING, S.B.S., J.P. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 6 May 2009 7217 THE HONOURABLE WONG TING-KWONG, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE RONNY TONG KA-WAH, S.C. THE HONOURABLE CHIM PUI-CHUNG PROF THE HONOURABLE PATRICK LAU SAU-SHING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE KAM NAI-WAI, M.H. THE HONOURABLE CYD HO SAU-LAN THE HONOURABLE STARRY LEE WAI-KING DR THE HONOURABLE LAM TAI-FAI, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN HAK-KAN THE HONOURABLE PAUL CHAN MO-PO, M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN KIN-POR, J.P. THE HONOURABLE TANYA CHAN DR THE HONOURABLE PRISCILLA LEUNG MEI-FUN DR THE HONOURABLE LEUNG KA-LAU THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG KWOK-CHE THE HONOURABLE WONG SING-CHI THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-KIN, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE WONG YUK-MAN THE HONOURABLE IP WAI-MING, M.H. THE HONOURABLE IP KWOK-HIM, G.B.S., J.P. 7218 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 6 May 2009 THE HONOURABLE MRS REGINA IP LAU SUK-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PAN PEY-CHYOU THE HONOURABLE PAUL TSE WAI-CHUN DR THE HONOURABLE SAMSON TAM WAI-HO, J.P. MEMBERS ABSENT: THE HONOURABLE WONG YUNG-KAN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TIMOTHY FOK TSUN-TING, G.B.S., J.P. PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING: THE HONOURABLE MRS CARRIE LAM CHENG YUET-NGOR, J.P. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE STEPHEN LAM SUI-LUNG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AND MAINLAND AFFAIRS THE HONOURABLE AMBROSE LEE SIU-KWONG, I.D.S.M., J.P. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY THE HONOURABLE MATTHEW CHEUNG KIN-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND WELFARE MS JULIA LEUNG FUNG-YEE, J.P. SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY THE HONOURABLE EDWARD YAU TANG-WAH, J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THE HONOURABLE MRS RITA LAU NG WAI-LAN, J.P. SECRETARY FOR COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 6 May 2009 7219 CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MS PAULINE NG MAN-WAH, SECRETARY GENERAL MRS VIVIAN KAM NG LAI-MAN, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MRS JUSTINA LAM CHENG BO-LING, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MRS PERCY MA, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL 7220 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 6 May 2009 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) 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. Consular Relations (Additional Privileges and Immunities) (India) Order .......................................................... 73/2009 Administration of Estates by Consular Officers Ordinance (Variation of Schedule: India) Order ..................... 74/2009 Consular Conventions (Application of Section 3) (India) Order ...................................................................... 75/2009 Consular Relations (Additional Privileges and Immunities) (Italy) Order ........................................................... 76/2009 Administration of Estates by Consular Officers Ordinance (Variation of Schedule: New Zealand) Order........ 77/2009 Consular Conventions (Application of Section 3) (New Zealand) Order ............................................. 78/2009 Consular Relations (Additional Privileges and Immunities) (Russia) Order........................................................ 79/2009 Administration of Estates by Consular Officers Ordinance (Variation of Schedule: Russia) Order................... 80/2009 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 6 May 2009 7221 Consular Conventions (Application of Section 3) (Russia) Order....................................................................... 81/2009 Inland Revenue (Double Taxation Relief and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income) (Socialist Republic of Vietnam) Order................... 82/2009 Electronic Transactions Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 3) Order 2009.......................................... 83/2009 Electronic Transactions (Exclusion) (Amendment) Order 2009 ........................................................................ 84/2009 Port Control (Public Cargo Working Area) Order 2009...... 85/2009 Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance (Commencement) Notice...................................................................... 86/2009 Product Eco-responsibility (Plastic Shopping Bags) Regulation (Commencement) Notice..................... 87/2009 ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Questions. First question. Financial Assistance for Unemployed Middle-class People 1. MR LEE CHEUK-YAN (in Cantonese): President, under the impact of the financial tsunami, the unemployment situation of various sectors in Hong Kong is deteriorating rapidly. Most middle-class people find it difficult to maintain their living once they lose their jobs. However, they are not eligible to apply for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) because the values of their assets exceed the prescribed limit. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it will introduce interim measures, including temporarily relaxing the prescribed asset limit of the CSSA Scheme and setting up temporary loan schemes for the unemployed, so as to provide short-term financial 7222 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 6 May 2009 assistance for the unemployed middle-class people; if it will; of the details; if not, the reasons for that? SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND WELFARE (in Cantonese): President, the Government has been highly concerned about the difficult economic environment and employment situation triggered by the financial tsunami, and has been responding to the challenges proactively through a multi-pronged strategy. In response to the economic recession and rising unemployment, the Government will give priority to various measures that could preserve jobs and support employment. Among the 62 000 job and internship opportunities introduced in the Budget, some of them require personnel with higher academic attainment and professional knowledge. Those positions will be suitable for the unemployed middle-class affected by the financial tsunami. The key to preserving jobs is to restore economic stability so as to enable the development of businesses. Hence, the Government has also introduced measures with such effects. For example, in December last year, we set up the Special Loan Guarantee Scheme with a guarantee commitment of $100 billion. The Government will provide a guarantee of up to 70% for loans approved by participating lending institutions. The Scheme has so far benefited 5 700 businesses which altogether employ more than 106 000 people. The measure therefore has a positive effect on preserving jobs. As regards employment support, the Labour Department (LD) provides comprehensive employment services to all job seekers, including the middle class. In the face of rising unemployment caused by the financial tsunami, the LD will adopt a more proactive approach in providing employment assistance to employees who have lost their jobs in redundancy or closure exercises. Furthermore, $400 million has been earmarked for the LD to enhance and integrate its various employment and training programmes. On welfare services, we also aim to provide a series of comprehensive services ranging from family welfare to services for young people and the elderly so as to cater for the needs of different segments of the community. People in need, be they middle-class or grassroots, could benefit from such services. We realize that some people in the community, including the middle class, may LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 6 May 2009 7223 encounter emotional or family problems as a result of the recent financial turmoil. As such, we have taken prompt action to strengthen our support for them. For example, the Social Welfare Department has in 2008-2009 provided additional funding of $2.17 million to the Multi-purpose Crisis Intervention and Support Centre of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and the Family Crisis Support Centre of Caritas-Hong Kong to set up two 24-hour Financial Crisis Emotional Support Hotlines. These hotlines provide 24-hour emotional support services. More than 7 000 calls have been received since the launching of the hotlines. About 22% of these calls, including those from the middle-class, require follow-up services. Besides, to address the needs of people and their families affected by the financial tsunami, the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund Committee has adopted the theme of "power of resilience in times of adversity" for the next round of applications, with a view to encouraging interested organizations to put forward innovative proposals which can help middle-class people and their families cope with adversity and enhance their support network.
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