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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 4 June 2008 8065 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 4 June 2008 The Council met at Eleven o'clock MEMBERS PRESENT: THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE MRS RITA FAN HSU LAI-TAI, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JAMES TIEN PEI-CHUN, 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 THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LEE CHU-MING, S.C., J.P. 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 LUI MING-WAH, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MARGARET NG THE HONOURABLE MRS SELINA CHOW LIANG SHUK-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG MAN-KWONG THE HONOURABLE CHAN YUEN-HAN, S.B.S., J.P. 8066 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 4 June 2008 THE HONOURABLE BERNARD CHAN, G.B.S., J.P. 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 THE HONOURABLE SIN CHUNG-KAI, S.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PHILIP WONG YU-HONG, G.B.S. THE HONOURABLE WONG YUNG-KAN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JASPER TSANG YOK-SING, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE HOWARD YOUNG, S.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE YEUNG SUM, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU CHIN-SHEK, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU KONG-WAH, J.P. 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 CHOY SO-YUK, 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. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 4 June 2008 8067 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, J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-HING, M.H. THE HONOURABLE LEE WING-TAT THE HONOURABLE LI KWOK-YING, M.H., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE JOSEPH LEE KOK-LONG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE DANIEL LAM WAI-KEUNG, S.B.S., 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 DR THE HONOURABLE KWOK KA-KI DR THE HONOURABLE FERNANDO CHEUNG CHIU-HUNG THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG HOK-MING, S.B.S., J.P. 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 ALBERT JINGHAN CHENG, J.P. 8068 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 4 June 2008 THE HONOURABLE KWONG CHI-KIN THE HONOURABLE TAM HEUNG-MAN THE HONOURABLE MRS ANSON CHAN, G.B.M., J.P. MEMBER ABSENT: 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, AND SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL SUEN MING-YEUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION THE HONOURABLE STEPHEN LAM SUI-LUNG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AND MAINLAND AFFAIRS THE HONOURABLE TSANG TAK-SING, J.P. SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS THE HONOURABLE MATTHEW CHEUNG KIN-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND WELFARE THE HONOURABLE EDWARD YAU TANG-WAH, J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MR RICKY FUNG CHOI-CHEUNG, J.P., SECRETARY GENERAL MRS JUSTINA LAM CHENG BO-LING, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MS PAULINE NG MAN-WAH, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 4 June 2008 8069 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. Shipping and Port Control (Amendment) Regulation 2008 ....................................... 148/2008 Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment of Schedule 5) (No. 2) Regulation 2008 .............. 149/2008 Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) (Amendment) Regulation 2008...................... 150/2008 Merchant Shipping (Limitation of Shipowners Liability) (Rate of Interest) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2008 ................................... 151/2008 ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Questions. First question. Infection of Pine Trees 1. MR ALBERT CHAN (in Cantonese): President, I have learnt that in recent years, quite a number of pine trees in various parts of Hong Kong, especially Chinese Red Pines, have been infected, and some of them even died as a result. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (a) of the respective numbers of pine trees of various species which had been infected and died from infection in each of the past five years; and (b) whether the authorities know the causes of infection for the above pine trees, and whether currently there are measures and new methods to prevent pine trees from being infected and dying as a result, so as to reduce the death of pine trees; if there are such measures and methods, of the details; if not, the reasons for that? 8070 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 4 June 2008 SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (in Cantonese): Madam President, I have to thank Mr Albert CHAN for his question. (a) In early 1980s, there was mass mortality of the local Chinese Red Pines due to infection by the pine wilt nematode. To control the spread of the disease, infected trees were cut down and burnt. Furthermore, planting of the vulnerable Chinese Red Pine was discontinued. After implementation of these measures, serious outbreaks of the pine wilt disease were no longer found. Besides the infection of Chinese Red Pine by pine wilt disease in early 1980s, there were no other record of serious outbreaks of pine trees by disease. There has not been any territory-wide survey on pine trees in Hong Kong. Therefore, we do not have the annual data on the numbers of pine trees of various species which had been infected and died from infection as requested by Mr Albert CHAN. However, based on field observations, there were only sporadic deaths of pine trees in recent years. There were no incidents similar to the mortality of pine trees caused by infection in early 1980s. (b) In reply to part (b) of Mr Albert CHAN's question, pine wilt nematode is the causal agent of pine wilt disease that could lead to serious losses of trees and woodlands. In this regard, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) conducted a survey in 1999 to investigate the pest status of the pine wilt nematode in Hong Kong. Out of the some 1 300 pine tree samples collected, only one sample was found to be infested with the pine wilt nematode. The study concluded that the pest is no longer a threat to the pine tree population in Hong Kong and large-scale control programme on this pest is not carried out again. In addition, the AFCD commissioned the Guangdong Forestry Bureau to conduct the study "Survey of forest pests and diseases in Hong Kong" from 2005 to 2007. The findings of the study indicated that the woodland ecosystems in country parks have good natural ability to control pests and diseases. The woodlands of country parks are not affected by serious pests or diseases as a whole. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 4 June 2008 8071 Healthy trees are resistant to pests and diseases. Spreading of pests and diseases is much more difficult in diverse woodlands. Hence, maintaining healthy and diverse woodlands is the most effective measure to prevent outbreak of pests and diseases. In this regard, Members may notice in recent years that the AFCD has practised mixed planting, that is planting more than one species of trees, in establishing new woodlands. Mixtures of seedlings of different tree species have been planted together to allow our plantation be developed into diverse woodlands in future. For existing plantations, particularly those comprising mainly pine trees, the AFCD has planted seedlings of different tree species, so as to enrich the species composition of the woodland, which will indirectly enhance the biodiversity there. MR ALBERT CHAN (in Cantonese): President, the Secretary's reply comes as quite a shock. For in the past few years, more often than not, when I went to country parks, drove along the road or strolled along parks of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), I would notice pine trees shrivelled and died as a result. Some of these pine trees which shrivelled and died were as old as 30 to 40 years. The figure in this connection is on the rise. In certain districts, all the pine trees growing on the mountain have shrivelled. However, the Secretary dared to say that he did not notice such situation. Will the Secretary instruct his colleagues to conduct a territory-wide comprehensive survey on the decrease in pine trees, so that the Government can get hold of the basic information on the issue and then find a solution? SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (in Cantonese): Madam President, I have to thank Mr Albert CHAN for his supplementary question.