HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 20 October 1993 281 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 20 October 1993 The Council met at half-past Two o'clock PRESENT THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE JOHN JOSEPH SWAINE, C.B.E., LL.D., Q.C., J.P. THE CHIEF SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE SIR DAVID ROBERT FORD, K.B.E., L.V.O., 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 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, O.B.E., J.P. 282 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 20 October 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., J.P. 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 VINCENT CHENG HOI-CHUEN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE MOSES CHENG MO-CHI 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, O.B.E., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LAM KUI-CHUN DR THE HONOURABLE CONRAD LAM KUI-SHING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU CHIN-SHEK THE HONOURABLE EMILY LAU WAI-HING THE HONOURABLE LEE WING-TAT THE HONOURABLE ERIC LI KA-CHEUNG, J.P. HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 20 October 1993 283 THE HONOURABLE FRED LI WAH-MING THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG THE HONOURABLE STEVEN POON KWOK-LIM THE HONOURABLE HENRY TANG YING-YEN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE TIK CHI-YUEN THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN 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 THE HONOURABLE JAMES TIEN PEI-CHUN, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALFRED TSO SHIU-WAI ABSENT THE HONOURABLE MARTIN GILBERT BARROW, O.B.E., J.P. IN ATTENDANCE THE CLERK TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MR CLETUS LAU KWOK-HONG THE DEPUTY CLERK TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MR PATRICK CHAN NIM-TAK 284 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 20 October 1993 Papers The following papers were laid on the table pursuant to Standing Order 14(2): Subject Subsidiary Legislation L.N. No. Public Health and Municipal Services (Public Pleasure Grounds) (Amendment of Fourth schedule) (No. 6) Order 1993...................................................................... 395/93 Public Swimming Pools (Designation) Order 1993......................................... 396/93 Employees Retraining Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) (No. 9) Notice 1993................................................................. 397/93 Travel Agents Ordinance (Specification of Council Levy) Notice.................................................................................. 398/93 Travel Agents Ordinance (Specification of Fund Levy) Notice................................................................................................ 399/93 Occupational Retirement Schemes (Authentication and Certification of Documents) Rules ....................................................... 400/93 Occupational Retirement Schemes (Consultative Committees) Rules ...................................................................................... 401/93 Occupational Retirement Schemes (Exemption from Audit) Rules ................................................................................................ 402/93 Occupational Retirement Schemes (Fees) Rules ............................................. 403/93 Occupational Retirement Schemes (Insurance Arrangement) Rules .................................................................................... 404/93 Occupational Retirement Schemes (Member's Request for Information on Scheme Assets) Rules ..................................... 405/93 Occupational Retirement Schemes (Payment of Benefits) Rules............................................................................................ 406/93 Occupational Retirement Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 426) (Commencement) Notice 1993.................................................. 407/93 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 20 October 1993 285 Sessional Papers 1993-94 No. 13 — Vegetable Marketing Organization — Statement of Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 1993 No. 14 — Fish Marketing Organization — Statement of Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 1993 No. 15 — Marine Fish Scholarship Fund Report for the Period from 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993 No. 16 — Agricultural Products Scholarship Fund Report for the Period from 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993 Written answers to questions Newspaper price 1. MR LAU CHIN-SHEK asked (in Chinese): Newspapers are one of Hong Kong's major news media and newspaper reading has become almost an essential part of the public's everyday life. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it will consider devising an appropriate mechanism for monitoring the procedures for newspaper price increases, so as to safeguard the interests of the general public? SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS: Mr President, Hong Kong has a thriving newspaper industry. There are currently 44 Chinese-language and two English-language daily newspapers registered in the territory. Many of these have established international reputations for the quality of their coverage of the news. The Government's policy is to allow news organizations the greatest possible flexibility in conducting their activities. As such, the only Ordinance that is directly relevant to this medium is the Registration of Local Newspapers Ordinance, the purpose of which is to ensure that every newspaper is properly registered, with their proprietor, printer, publisher, and editor clearly identified. The Government does not regulate the price of newspapers. The Government considers that, except where social considerations are over-riding, the prices of commodities are best left to market forces with minimal government intervention. Accordingly, there are no plans to develop a mechanism to monitor or control newspaper price increases. If members of the public have any complaints relating to the price of newspapers, they can 286 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 20 October 1993 approach the Consumer Council which is charged with receiving and examining complaints by consumers. Operation of Hospital Authority 2. DR CONRAD LAM asked (in Chinese): Will the Government inform this Council whether the Hospital Authority will increase the transparency of its operation by holding its meetings in public as does the Housing Authority; if not, what reasons can be given for not doing so? SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE: Mr President, the Hospital Authority is set up by statute as a body corporate with functions which include managing and controlling public hospitals, advising the Government on the needs of the public for hospital services, and encouraging public participation. The Authority is substantially funded by public revenue subject to annual appropriation by the Legislative Council to which it is answerable. Furthermore, under the Hospital Authority Ordinance, the Director of Audit may conduct examinations on the economy and efficiency with which the Authority has expended resources in discharging its statutory functions. Since 1990, the Hospital Authority has set up three Regional Advisory Committees to provide forums for discussion on the regional planning and provision of hospital services. It has set up 31 Hospital Governing Committees responsible for overseeing the management of individual hospitals. All these boards and committees are served by members of the public, in particular those involved in community and district organizations, to provide a direct venue for participation and partnership. The present system provides for accountability and transparency while maintaining efficiency of the Hospital Authority's executive responsibilities. The system works well and should be allowed to continue. However, I will explore with the Hospital Authority further ways to enhance transparency. Ningdingyang Bridge Project 3. DR TANG SIU-TONG asked (in Chinese): The Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands visited Zhuhai earlier on to gain some understanding of the Ningdingyang Bridge Project designed to link Zhuhai with Tuen Mun. Subsequently, the plan of this Project was formally delivered to the Hong Kong Government for study. Will the Government inform this Council: (a) what aspects of the project were covered by the study; what conclusions have been drawn and whether the findings of the study will be released to the public in detail; HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 20 October 1993 287 (b) whether this