HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 10 February 1993 1775 OFFICAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 10 February 1993 The Council met at half-past Two o'clock PRESENT THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE JOHN JOSEPH SWAINE, C.B.E., Q.C., J.P. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE NATHANIEL WILLIAM HAMISH MACLEOD, C.B.E., J.P. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE HONOURABLE JEREMY FELL MATHEWS, C.M.G., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALLEN LEE PENG-FEI, C.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE STEPHEN CHEONG KAM-CHUEN, C.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS SELINA CHOW LIANG SHUK-YEE, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE HUI YIN-FAT, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LEE CHU-MING, Q.C., J.P. THE HONOURABLE DAVID LI KWOK-PO, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE NGAI SHIU-KIT, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE PANG CHUN-HOI, M.B.E. THE HONOURABLE SZETO WAH THE HONOURABLE TAM YIU-CHUNG THE HONOURABLE ANDREW WONG WANG-FAT, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU WONG-FAT, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE EDWARD HO SING-TIN, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE RONALD JOSEPH ARCULLI, J.P. THE HONOURABLE MARTIN GILBERT BARROW, O.B.E., J.P. 1776 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 10 February 1993 THE HONOURABLE MRS PEGGY LAM, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS MIRIAM LAU KIN-YEE, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU WAH-SUM, O.B.E., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LEONG CHE-HUNG, O.B.E. THE HONOURABLE JAMES DAVID McGREGOR, O.B.E., I.S.O., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS ELSIE TU, C.B.E. THE HONOURABLE PETER WONG HONG-YUEN, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP THE HONOURABLE MARVIN CHEUNG KIN-TUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG MAN-KWONG THE HONOURABLE CHIM PUI-CHUNG REV THE HONOURABLE FUNG CHI-WOOD THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE THE HONOURABLE TIMOTHY HA WING-HO, M.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL HO MUN-KA DR THE HONOURABLE HUANG CHEN-YA THE HONOURABLE SIMON IP SIK-ON, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LAM KUI-CHUN DR THE HONOURABLE CONRAD LAM KUI-SHING THE HONOURABLE LAU CHIN-SHEK THE HONOURABLE EMILY LAU WAI-HING THE HONOURABLE LEE WING-TAT THE HONOURABLE GILBERT LEUNG KAM-HO THE HONOURABLE ERIC LI KA-CHEUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE FRED LI WAH-MING HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 10 February 1993 1777 THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG THE HONOURABLE STEVEN POON KWOK-LIM THE HONOURABLE HENRY TANG YING-YEN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE TIK CHI-YUEN DR THE HONOURABLE SAMUEL WONG PING-WAI, M.B.E., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PHILIP WONG YU-HONG DR THE HONOURABLE YEUNG SUM THE HONOURABLE HOWARD YOUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE ZACHARY WONG WAI-YIN DR THE HONOURABLE TANG SIU-TONG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHRISTINE LOH KUNG-WAI THE HONOURABLE ROGER LUK KOON-HOO THE HONOURABLE ANNA WU HUNG-YUK ABSENT THE CHIEF SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE SIR DAVID ROBERT FORD, K.B.E., L.V.O., J.P. THE HONOURABLE VINCENT CHENG HOI-CHUEN THE HONOURABLE MOSES CHENG MO-CHI THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN IN ATTENDANCE THE HONOURABLE JOHN CHAN CHO-CHAK, L.V.O., O.B.E., J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER MRS ELIZABETH WONG CHIEN CHI-LIEN, I.S.O., J.P. SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL SZE CHO-CHEUNG, I.S.O., J.P. SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS 1778 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 10 February 1993 MR ANTHONY GORDON EASON, J.P. SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS MRS ELIZABETH MARGARET BOSHER, J.P. SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES THE CLERK TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MR CLETUS LAU KWOK-HONG HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 10 February 1993 1779 Papers The following papers were laid on the table pursuant to Standing Order 14(2): Subject Subsidiary Legislation L.N. No. Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations (Amendment of Schedule) Order 1993 .............................................................................................. 23/93 Continuing Legal Education (Amendment) Rule 1993 ................................................................................................ 27/93 Import and Export (Amendment of Schedule) Notice 1993 ............................................................................................. 28/93 Sessional Papers 1992-93 No. 54 — Regional Council Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year ending 31 March 1994 No. 55 — Regional Council Revised Estimates of Expenditure 1992-93 No. 56 — Revisions to the 1992-93 Estimates approved by the Urban Council during the third quarter of the 1992-93 financial year No. 57 — Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Director of Audit on the Accounts of the Hong Kong Government for the year ended 31 March 1992 and the Results of Value for Money Audits January 1993 PAC Report No. 19 1780 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 10 February 1993 Address Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Director of Audit on the Accounts of the Hong Kong Government for the year ended 31 March 1992 and the Results of Value for Money Audits January 1993 PAC Report No. 19 MR STEPHEN CHEONG: Mr Deputy President, on behalf of the Public Accounts Committee, I have the honour to table the Committee's Report No. 19 today. The PAC Report No. 19 covers the conclusions reached by the Committee in considering the Director of Audit's Report No. 19 on the accounts of the Hong Kong Government for the year ended 31 March 1992, and the results of value for money audits completed between March and September 1992. In tabling this report, I wish to re- emphasize that the function of our Committee is not vindictive or punitive, but to examine with the Administration issues raised in the Director of Audit's Report with a view to drawing lessons from mistakes made in the past and arriving at recommendations for the more efficient use of public funds in future. In considering the Director of Audit's Report No. 19, the Committee note with concern the apparent lack of co-ordination amongst government departments where more than one department are involved in pursuing certain common objectives. This lack of co-ordination is evident in a number of issues raised in the Director of Audit's Report. The Committee consider that it is essential for the Government to consider ways to improve co-ordination amongst departments involved in common issues by designating a particular controlling officer as the overall co-ordinator whenever more than one government department are involved in any project. The Committee have been pleased by the positive approach adopted by Controlling Officers towards the Director of Audit's observations and their co-operative attitude in facilitating the Committee's deliberations. The Committee trust that the Administration, the Audit Department and the Committee will continue to work closely with a view to achieving better efficiency and cost-effectiveness within the Government. Mr Deputy President, I trust that the recommendations contained in our Report No. 19 will be accepted by the Administration. HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 10 February 1993 1781 Oral answers to questions Waste recycling 1. REV FUNG CHI-WOOD asked (in Cantonese): In view of the rapidly increasing amount of solid waste generated in Hong Kong and the expensive cost of construction and operation of landfills, will the Government inform this Council: (a) whether a thorough feasibility study has been conducted to identify the advantages and disadvantages of recycling waste materials in the territory; and (b) if not, when such a study will be undertaken? SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS: Mr Deputy President, (a) The Environmental Protection Department commissioned a consultancy study to look into the feasibility of recycling construction waste in April 1991. This form of waste was selected for study because it accounts for about 60% of the solid waste going to landfills. The study concluded that recycling was technically feasible and in April and May 1992 a six-week trial was conducted at the Tseung Kwan O landfill. The aim of the trial was to assess what equipment and practical procedures would be necessary to select construction waste suitable for disposal as reclamation fill material. The trial also demonstrated that it is feasible to separate various types of construction waste — such as concrete and reinforcing bars and putrescible wastes — such as wood and plastic. In the light of the study findings, the Director of Environmental Protection is now discussing with the Hong Kong Construction Association implementation arrangements to help conserve valuable space at landfills. (b) As regards solid waste other than construction waste, it is proposed that another study should start later this year to examine practical options to reduce the amount of municipal waste going to landfills. REV FUNG CHI-WOOD (in Cantonese): Mr Deputy President, it is mentioned in paragraph (b) of the reply that another study will start later this year. How long will that study take, and how much will be spent? 1782 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 10 February 1993 SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS: Mr Deputy President, I think the sort of detail as regards the exact brief for the study, what areas it will cover, how it will be done and by whom, and therefore how much time it will take and its cost have yet to be worked out. So I am not at the moment in a position to answer those specific questions. MRS PEGGY LAM (in Cantonese): Mr Deputy President, will the Administration inform this Council whether it has any policy to encourage the public to separate various types of waste, or whether it will use different litterbins for different types of waste such as waste paper, glass bottles or other substances in order to facilitate separate treatment? SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS: Mr Deputy President, it is the Government's policy to examine measures to limit the amount of waste and to encourage the recovery and recycling of waste and that means its separation.