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OFFICIAL RECORD of PROCEEDINGS Thursday, 18 April 2019 the Council Continued to Meet at Nine O'clock

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OFFICIAL RECORD of PROCEEDINGS Thursday, 18 April 2019 the Council Continued to Meet at Nine O'clock LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 18 April 2019 8993 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Thursday, 18 April 2019 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 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 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. 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 CLAUDIA MO 8994 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 18 April 2019 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 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 CHRISTOPHER CHEUNG WAH-FUNG, S.B.S., J.P. 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. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 18 April 2019 8995 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. THE HONOURABLE YUNG HOI-YAN DR THE HONOURABLE PIERRE CHAN THE HONOURABLE CHAN CHUN-YING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE TANYA CHAN THE HONOURABLE HUI CHI-FUNG THE HONOURABLE LUK CHUNG-HUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU KWOK-FAN, M.H. 8996 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 18 April 2019 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. THE HONOURABLE CHAN HOI-YAN MEMBERS ABSENT: THE HONOURABLE LEUNG YIU-CHUNG THE HONOURABLE WONG TING-KWONG, G.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PRISCILLA LEUNG MEI-FUN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL TIEN PUK-SUN, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MA FUNG-KWOK, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE DENNIS KWOK WING-HANG THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LIAO CHEUNG-KONG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG KWOK-KWAN, J.P. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 18 April 2019 8997 PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING: THE HONOURABLE PAUL CHAN MO-PO, G.B.M., G.B.S., M.H., J.P. FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE WONG KAM-SING, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT 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 DR THE HONOURABLE LAW CHI-KWONG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND WELFARE 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 KEVIN YEUNG YUN-HUNG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MR KENNETH CHEN WEI-ON, S.B.S., SECRETARY GENERAL MS ANITA SIT, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MISS FLORA TAI YIN-PING, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MS DORA WAI, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MR MATTHEW LOO, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL 8998 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 18 April 2019 GOVERNMENT BILLS Second Reading of Government Bills Resumption of Second Reading Debate on Government Bill PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): This Council now continues with the Second Reading debate on the Appropriation Bill 2019. Members who wish to speak will please press the "Request to Speak" button. APPROPRIATION BILL 2019 Resumption of debate on Second Reading which was moved on 27 February 2019 (Mr Gary FAN stood up) PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Mr Gary FAN, what is your point? MR GARY FAN (in Cantonese): President, I request a headcount. PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Will the Clerk please ring the bell to summon Members back to the Chamber. (After the summoning bell had been rung, a number of Members returned to the Chamber) PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Dr Junius HO, please speak. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 18 April 2019 8999 DR JUNIUS HO (in Cantonese): President, I thank Mr Gary FAN for helping me to summon Members back to share my interpretation and expectation of this Budget. Financial Secretary Paul CHAN … (Ringing of a Member's mobile phone) PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Will Members please turn your mobile phone to silent mode. DR JUNIUS HO (in Cantonese): … This is the third Budget of Financial Secretary Paul CHAN, and I was unable to speak in last year's budget debate. When he delivered his first Budget, I was pretty excited because after all, it was his maiden Budget. This year, I still welcome the Budget because there is surplus, which had already existed during the second year of his term of office. Although the surplus of this year is not as handsome as the previous two years, I still want to share my feeling with the Financial Secretary. In paragraph 201 of the Concluding Remarks of his Budget Speech, the Financial Secretary highlights the need to seek out-of-the-box changes: "On the economic front, the current-term Government is ready to think out of the box and act proactively to open up new horizons for Hong Kong. To improve people's livelihood, we are resolute in devoting resources and will spare no effort in solving problems." The issues mentioned therein have been clearly set out in paragraphs 23 and 29 of his speech. Paragraph 23 says that, "To seize the opportunities, we must look squarely into the problems of land and manpower, which have been hindering the economic and social development of Hong Kong", and paragraph 29 states that, "The land and manpower problems in Hong Kong cannot be solved with financial resources alone. We should not shy away from the different voices in the community. Instead, in the spirit of 'seeking common ground while shelving major differences', we should build consensus in a pragmatic and rational manner, and join hands to overcome constraints … (Mr Kenneth LEUNG stood up) 9000 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 18 April 2019 PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Mr Kenneth LEUNG, what is your point? MR KENNETH LEUNG (in Cantonese): President, is Dr Junius HO citing from the Budget of the year 2018-2019 or 2019-2020? Would he please clarify? PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Dr Junius HO, do you want to clarify? If not, please continue with your speech. DR JUNIUS HO (in Cantonese): President, I do not need to clarify. I merely read from my script to share my views with Members. PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Dr HO, please continue to speak. DR JUNIUS HO (in Cantonese): Members would understand only if they listen attentively. They should listen with a pragmatic and rational attitude, learn with a humble mind and exchange views with a sincere attitude, with a view to "seeking common ground while shelving major differences", am I right? It is indeed premature for Members to stand up whenever they hear something unpleasant to their ears, and they should not be so anxious. Let me continue: "While there are vast opportunities for Hong Kong's development, they do not knock twice or wait for anyone. We have to stay united and seize each and every opportunity." While these few premises have encouraged me to set high expectations for this Budget, I do not think the Financial Secretary's approach can seek out-of-the-box changes on all fronts. What should we do then? I would like to share three points with the Financial Secretary as the rest has already been outlined by other colleagues. First, it is the supply of housing. In the Policy Address, the current-term Government proposes to invest more than $1 trillion in the Central Waters of Lantau Island. After reclamation of land, construction works will commence, and the expenditure incurred is nearly $600 billion to $700 billion. Coupled LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 18 April 2019 9001 with other expenditures, the final expenditure will exceed $1 trillion. With regard to land supply, I agree that there is a need for Hong Kong to reclaim land, but the current problem is that the Government has resorted to reclamation as the only option and forgotten that traditionally, land supply should come from inland. The Financial Secretary is the Chairman of the Steering Committee on Land Supply ("the Steering Committee"), but in mid-February this year, Secretary for Development Michael WONG said that the Steering Committee would have its functions expanded and undergo restructuring.
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