LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 17 December 2014 3659 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 17 December 2014 The Council met at Eleven o'clock MEMBERS PRESENT: THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE JASPER TSANG YOK-SING, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALBERT HO CHUN-YAN THE HONOURABLE LEE CHEUK-YAN THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN THE HONOURABLE CHAN KAM-LAM, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG YIU-CHUNG DR THE HONOURABLE LAU WONG-FAT, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE EMILY LAU WAI-HING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE TAM YIU-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ABRAHAM SHEK LAI-HIM, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE VINCENT FANG KANG, S.B.S., J.P. 3660 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 17 December 2014 THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-HING, B.B.S., M.H. PROF THE HONOURABLE JOSEPH LEE KOK-LONG, S.B.S., J.P., Ph.D., R.N. THE HONOURABLE JEFFREY LAM KIN-FUNG, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ANDREW LEUNG KWAN-YUEN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG TING-KWONG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CYD HO SAU-LAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE STARRY LEE WAI-KING, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LAM TAI-FAI, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN HAK-KAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN KIN-POR, B.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PRISCILLA LEUNG MEI-FUN, S.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LEUNG KA-LAU THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-KIN, S.B.S. THE HONOURABLE IP KWOK-HIM, G.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 ALAN LEONG KAH-KIT, S.C. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG KWOK-HUNG THE HONOURABLE ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 17 December 2014 3661 THE HONOURABLE CLAUDIA MO THE HONOURABLE JAMES TIEN PEI-CHUN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE NG LEUNG-SING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE STEVEN HO CHUN-YIN THE HONOURABLE FRANKIE YICK CHI-MING THE HONOURABLE WU CHI-WAI, M.H. THE HONOURABLE YIU SI-WING THE HONOURABLE GARY FAN KWOK-WAI THE HONOURABLE MA FUNG-KWOK, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHARLES PETER MOK, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN CHI-CHUEN THE HONOURABLE CHAN HAN-PAN, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE KENNETH CHAN KA-LOK THE HONOURABLE CHAN YUEN-HAN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG CHE-CHEUNG, B.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE KENNETH LEUNG THE HONOURABLE ALICE MAK MEI-KUEN, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE KWOK KA-KI THE HONOURABLE KWOK WAI-KEUNG THE HONOURABLE DENNIS KWOK 3662 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 17 December 2014 THE HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER CHEUNG WAH-FUNG, S.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE FERNANDO CHEUNG CHIU-HUNG THE HONOURABLE SIN CHUNG-KAI, S.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE HELENA WONG PIK-WAN THE HONOURABLE IP KIN-YUEN DR THE HONOURABLE ELIZABETH QUAT, J.P. THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LIAO CHEUNG-KONG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE POON SIU-PING, B.B.S., M.H. THE HONOURABLE TANG KA-PIU, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE CHIANG LAI-WAN, J.P. IR DR THE HONOURABLE LO WAI-KWOK, B.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHUNG KWOK-PAN THE HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER CHUNG SHU-KUN, B.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TONY TSE WAI-CHUEN, B.B.S. MEMBERS ABSENT: THE HONOURABLE RONNY TONG KA-WAH, S.C. THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG KWOK-CHE THE HONOURABLE WONG YUK-MAN THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL TIEN PUK-SUN, B.B.S., J.P. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 17 December 2014 3663 PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING: THE HONOURABLE MRS CARRIE LAM CHENG YUET-NGOR, G.B.S., J.P. THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION PROF THE HONOURABLE ANTHONY CHEUNG BING-LEUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING THE HONOURABLE TSANG TAK-SING, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS THE HONOURABLE MATTHEW CHEUNG KIN-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND WELFARE PROF THE HONOURABLE K C CHAN, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY THE HONOURABLE RAYMOND TAM CHI-YUEN, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AND MAINLAND AFFAIRS THE HONOURABLE LAI TUNG-KWOK, S.B.S., I.D.S.M., J.P. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY THE HONOURABLE PAUL CHAN MO-PO, M.H., J.P. SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MR KENNETH CHEN WEI-ON, S.B.S., SECRETARY GENERAL MRS JUSTINA LAM CHENG BO-LING, DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL MISS FLORA TAI YIN-PING, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MISS ODELIA LEUNG HING-YEE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL 3664 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 17 December 2014 PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Will the Clerk please ring the bell to summon Members to the Chamber. (After the summoning bell had been rung, a number of Members entered the Chamber) TABLING OF PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table under Rule 21(2) of the Rules of Procedure: Subsidiary Legislation/Instruments L.N. No. Designation of Libraries (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2014 ............................................................. 152/2014 Intercountry Adoption (Contracting States) (Amendment) Order 2014 ............................................................. 153/2014 Waste Disposal (Designated Waste Disposal Facility) (Amendment) Regulation 2013 (Commencement) Notice 2014 ............................................................ 154/2014 Waste Disposal (Refuse Transfer Station) (Amendment) Regulation 2013 (Commencement) Notice ........... 155/2014 Other Papers No. 47 ─ Queen Elizabeth Foundation for the Mentally Handicapped Report and Accounts 2013-2014 No. 48 ─ Social Work Training Fund Fifty-third Annual Report by the Trustee for the year ending on 31 March 2014 No. 49 ─ Hong Kong Tourism Board Annual Report 2013/14 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 17 December 2014 3665 No. 50 ─ Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong Annual Report 2013-14 No. 51 ─ Equal Opportunities Commission Annual Report 2013/14 No. 52 ─ Lotteries Fund The Accounts of the Fund 2013-14 No. 53 ─ Police Welfare Fund Annual Report 2013/2014 No. 54 ─ The Police Children's Education Trust and the Police Education and Welfare Trust Annual Report 2013/2014 No. 55 ─ Brewin Trust Fund Report of the Brewin Trust Fund Committee on the Administration of the Fund for the year ended 30 June 2014 No. 56 ─ Grantham Scholarships Fund Report of the Grantham Scholarships Fund Committee on the Administration of the Fund for the year ended 31 August 2014 No. 57 ─ The Sir Murray MacLehose Trust Fund Trustee's Report for the period of 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014 No. 58 ─ Chinese Temples Fund Report of the Chinese Temples Committee on the Administration of the Fund for the year ended 31 March 2014 No. 59 ─ General Chinese Charities Fund Report of the Chinese Temples Committee on the Administration of the Fund for the year ended 31 March 2014 3666 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 17 December 2014 Report No. 7/14-15 of the House Committee on Consideration of Subsidiary Legislation and Other Instruments Report of the Bills Committee on Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 Report of the Bills Committee on Employment (Amendment) Bill 2014 Report of the Bills Committee on Construction Workers Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014 ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Questions. First question. Interim Scheme to Extend HOS Secondary Market to White Form Buyers 1. MR ANDREW LEUNG (in Cantonese): President, in 2013, the Government introduced the "Interim Scheme to Extend the Home Ownership Scheme Secondary Market to White Form Buyers" (the Interim Scheme) with a quota of 5 000 for persons meeting the eligibility criteria for the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) White Form applicants to purchase second-hand HOS flats without payment of land premium. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the respective numbers of persons aged 35 or below among the Interim Scheme applicants, the persons who were issued Certificates of Eligibility to Purchase and those who have purchased second-hand HOS flats under the Scheme; (2) whether it has studied the changes in the prices of HOS flats since the introduction of the Interim Scheme, and how this situation compares with the relevant situation in the private housing market; if there are differences between the two, of the reasons for that; and LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 17 December 2014 3667 (3) of the authorities' measures, apart from the new round of Interim Scheme to be rolled out in the middle of next year, to assist members of the public aged 35 or below who aspire, and have the ability, to purchase second-hand HOS flats in buying their own homes? SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING (in Cantonese): President, there are two categories of eligible applicants under the HOS, namely "Green Form" (GF) and "White Form" (WF) applicants. GF applicants include Public Rental Housing (PRH) tenants and PRH applicants who have passed the detailed eligibility vetting and are due for flat allocation in about a year's time. WF applicants do not satisfy the requirement for GF status but meet the eligibility criteria set by the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA). For example, for the pre-sale of newly built HOS flats in end-2014, the income and asset limits for family applicants are $46,000 and $1,010,000 respectively. To address the home ownership aspirations of WF applicants and to implement the Chief Executive's election manifesto, after discussion, the HA launched the Interim Scheme in January 2013 to allow 5 000 WF applicants to purchase flats without premium paid in the HOS Secondary Market.