Hon. Wayne Yiu Si-Wing Working Report 2012 - 2013 Foreword Dear friends and fellow colleagues, stamp duty collected from With much sincerity, let me thank you all for outbound tours increased your long-term and unfailing support. As the LegCo by 5.4%, the Hong Kong session 2012-13 has come to an end, I would like International Airport marked to review the work I have done in the past year and new records in both passenger present my report. Through sharing the achievements capacity and flight frequency by of my efforts, let us mutually encourage each other attaining annual growth of 4.7% and perform even better as we look into the future. and 5.3% respectively, and the annual average hotel occupancy It is an indisputable fact that the nearly 1,700 rate was up to 89%. All such travel agencies compete fiercely and can barely survive by achievements have indicated that there is still much room for making minimal profits. In addition, the turning of product tourism to develop. suppliers to direct sales, along with increasing costs in manpower and rental costs, have made operation within the To solve the aforementioned hurdles, our fellow members tourism industry even more difficult. The lack of government need to unite, build consensus, and urge the government to plans for the industry of Hong Kong over the years has given take measures for practical solutions. As the representative of inadequate support for tourist attractions, hotels, parking tourism in Hong Kong, I hold the duty to safeguard the rights and other facilities, whereas the confusing immigration and interests of our industry; as the communication channel, clearance arrangements also impacted much on the travelers’ I speak in the LegCo on behalf of our fellow members. Over impression towards Hong Kong. The global airports are the past year, I voiced out requests of the tourism industry gradually increasing their parking charges and persistent high through participating in committees, communicating with oil prices have affected airlines’ business. Secret operations government departments, following up complaints from of unlicensed guesthouses and the government’s tightened fellow members, raising inquiries, speaking in debates, and regulations on standard hotels have crippled the rights of attending media interviews as well as many other occasions. hotels and guesthouses. All such issues have proven that the Details and timetable are listed in this report for the reference tourism industry is facing varying degrees of challenge. of our fellow members. Despite multiple obstacles, the Hong Kong tourism Please provide me your precious comments. I shall as industry has done relatively well in 2012 and achieved growth usual live up to the trust of the industry and serve our fellow in various businesses. For instance, the record of visitors colleagues wholeheartedly. to Hong Kong reached a new high of 48.42 million and represented a growth of 16% compared to the 2011 figure, Hon. Wayne Yiu Si-Wing Address: Room 719, Legislative Council Complex, 1 Legislative Council Road, Central, Hong Kong Tel：2297 0633 / 9033 1692 Fax：2297 0832 Email: [email protected] Website: www.yiusiwing.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/yiusiwing anels and Subcommittees Pthat I Have Joined 2012 – 2013 Duties and Attendance Percentage Attendance Council Meeting 100% 35/35 Standing committees Finance-Committee 83% 39/47 And Establishment Subcommittee 100% 9/9 House Committees 97% 35/36 Subcommittee on Minimum Wage Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 3) Notice 2012 and Employment Ordinance (Amendment of 100% 2/2 Ninth Schedule) Notice 2012 Subcommittee on Personal Data (Privacy) (Amendment) Ordinance 100% 1/1 2012 (Commencement) Notice Subcommittee on Trade Descriptions (Powers Not Exercisable by Communications Authority) Notice and Trade Descriptions (Unfair 100% 1/1 Trade Practices) (Amendment) Ordinance 2012 (Commencement) Notice Subcommittee on Business Registration Ordinance (Amendment of 100% 1/1 Schedule 2) Order 2013 Subcommittee on Three Proposed Resolutions under Section 5(3)(b) 100% 1/1 of the Public Bus Services Ordinance (Cap. 230) Subcommittee on Frontier Closed Area (Amendment) Order 2013 and 100% 1/1 Frontier Closed Area (Permission to Enter) (Amendment) Notice 2013 Subcommittee on Competition Ordinance (Commencement) Notice 0% 0/0 2012 Panels Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services 100% 10/10 Panel on Constitutional Affairs 100% 10/10 Panel on Economic Development 100% 10/10 Panel on Home Affairs 100% 10/10 Joint Subcommittee to Monitor the Implementation of the West Kowloon Cultural District Project (Subcommittee under Panel on 86% 6/7 Home Affairs) Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting 92% 12/13 Panel on Security 100% 12/12 Bills Committees Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill 2012 83% 10/12 Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2013 100% 4/4 Hong Kong Arts Development Council (Amendment) Bill 2013 100% 2/2 Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2013 100% 6/6 2 erving the STourism Industry Push the Government to Formulate Plans for Concerned About Prolonged Queuing Time for Tourism Development Immigration Process 23 April 2013 – Received complaints from fellow members on the Strongly Requested the Government to Set Long-term prolonged queuing time for tourists during immigration process Tourism Plans 15 May 2013 - Raised written questions to the Secretary for Security 25 Nov 2012 - Raised the idea of “Formulating a Good Plan for about details on tourists queuing time for immigration process. Tourism Development” in the proposal submitted to the Chief 22 May 2013 – Arranged to meet with Mr John LEE Ka-Chiu, Executive for his policy address. 17 Jan 2013 - At the “Q&A session” for the policy address Under Secretary for Security, and raised a series of proposals, which included: set up “E-Channel” for mainland tourist groups, delivered by the Chief Executive, raised questions on the inadequate planning for tourism. implement a quota-controlled appointment system for immigration 31 Jan 2013 - Stated in the “Motion of Thanks” for the clearance of tour groups and open dedicated channels for business policy address that there is an expectation the Government travelers with special needs. will expeditiously formulate a timetable for various tourism 30 Jul 2013 – Arranged to meet with the Under Secretary of development projects. Security and Director of Immigration to learn about the progress 22 May 2013 - In the session of “Questions on Council Meeting”, of opening “e-Channels” for tourists, including those from the urged the government to seriously look at Hong Kong's overall mainland. tourism planning. In particular, comprehensive considerations need to be given on the aspects of catering, accommodation, transportation, entertainment, travel, and shopping. Safeguard Rights and Interests of Tour- Advocated Tourism Development in Lantau Island ism Industry 13 Jan 2013 - Feature Article in Ta Kung Pao, “YIU Si-wing Concerned About the Drafted Regulations for Suggests Turning Lantau into a Tourist Island” Establishing the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) 6 Feb 2013 - Raised amendments for the motion of “Developing a New North Lantau” and was approved. Comments were gathered from a number of tourist associations and 15 Mar 2013 - Met with Mr Allen HA Wing-on, Chairman of friends in the industry on views and comments towards release of Lantau Development Alliance, and discussed the feasibility of consultation draft for the new regulations. Lantau development. 4 Jun 2013 – Arranged to meet with Mr Philip YUNG, 15 Mar 2013 - Met with Professor Anthony CHEUNG Ping-leung, Commissioner for Tourism, and raised the proposal on future Secretary for Transport and Housing, and expressed opinions on governance of TIA. The following opinions were stated: developing Lantau Island. 1. Agreed to raise the entry barrier for newly-established travel 31 Mar 2013 - Ta Kung Pao reported, “YIU Si-wing Urges agencies. Requirements for existing travel agencies shall remain Development of Tourism in Lantau” unchanged; 4 Jul 2013 - Mr Jack SO Chak-kwong, Convenor of Working 2. Opposed to the charging of $800,000 deposit from all travel Group on Convention and Exhibition Industries and Tourism, agents that run business on mainland inbound tours; and announced the future targets of Lantau and hotel development. 3. Proposed a lower rate of increase on registration fee for Urged the Government to Improve Supporting mainland inbound tours. Facilities for the Cruise Terminal 22 Jul 2013 – Suggested at a meeting of Panel on Economic 9 Jan 2013 - Raised an oral question on whether there would be Development that the new regulations on deposit charging should sufficient parking spaces for coaches in the city area after the not be made compulsory to all travel agencies running mainland resumption of coach parking area at the Kai Tak Development inbound tours. Rather, deposits should be demanded from those Area. agencies that infringed the rules and regulations. The proposal gain 10 Jan 2013 - Wen Wei Po reported, "YIU Si-wing Appealed for support from some members. More Parking Spaces for Coaches" Concerned About the Incidents of “Rowdy Tourists” 22 Apr 2013 - At the meeting of Panel on Economic Development, 3 May 2013 – Appeared at the programme of “Saturday urged the Government to expedite the development of transport Accountability” with Mr Joseph TUNG Yao-chung, Executive facilities at the Cruise Terminal and provide timely report to the Tourism Commission on the follow-up and consolidation of the Director