LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 December 2020 2179 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 9 December 2020 The Council met at Eleven o'clock MEMBERS PRESENT: THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE ANDREW LEUNG KWAN-YUEN, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ABRAHAM SHEK LAI-HIM, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JEFFREY LAM KIN-FUNG, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG TING-KWONG, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE STARRY LEE WAI-KING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN HAK-KAN, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN KIN-POR, G.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PRISCILLA LEUNG MEI-FUN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-KIN, S.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 MICHAEL TIEN PUK-SUN, B.B.S., J.P. 2180 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 December 2020 THE HONOURABLE STEVEN HO CHUN-YIN, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE FRANKIE YICK CHI-MING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE YIU SI-WING, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE MA FUNG-KWOK, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN HAN-PAN, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG CHE-CHEUNG, S.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALICE MAK MEI-KUEN, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE KWOK WAI-KEUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER CHEUNG WAH-FUNG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ELIZABETH QUAT, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LIAO CHEUNG-KONG, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE POON SIU-PING, B.B.S., M.H. DR THE HONOURABLE CHIANG LAI-WAN, S.B.S., J.P. IR DR THE HONOURABLE LO WAI-KWOK, S.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHUNG KWOK-PAN THE HONOURABLE JIMMY NG WING-KA, B.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE JUNIUS HO KWAN-YIU, J.P. THE HONOURABLE HOLDEN CHOW HO-DING THE HONOURABLE SHIU KA-FAI, J.P. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 December 2020 2181 THE HONOURABLE WILSON OR CHONG-SHING, M.H. THE HONOURABLE YUNG HOI-YAN, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PIERRE CHAN THE HONOURABLE CHAN CHUN-YING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG KWOK-KWAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LUK CHUNG-HUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU KWOK-FAN, M.H. THE HONOURABLE KENNETH LAU IP-KEUNG, B.B.S., M.H., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE CHENG CHUNG-TAI THE HONOURABLE VINCENT CHENG WING-SHUN, M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TONY TSE WAI-CHUEN, B.B.S., J.P. PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING: THE HONOURABLE MATTHEW CHEUNG KIN-CHUNG, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION DR THE HONOURABLE LAW CHI-KWONG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND WELFARE THE HONOURABLE FRANK CHAN FAN, J.P. SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL WONG WAI-LUN, J.P. SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT 2182 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 December 2020 THE HONOURABLE ERICK TSANG KWOK-WAI, I.D.S.M., J.P. SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AND MAINLAND AFFAIRS THE HONOURABLE CASPAR TSUI YING-WAI, J.P. SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS THE HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER HUI CHING-YU, J.P. SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY MR SONNY AU CHI-KWONG, P.D.S.M., J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR SECURITY DR RAYMOND SO WAI-MAN, B.B.S., J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MR KENNETH CHEN WEI-ON, S.B.S., SECRETARY GENERAL MISS ODELIA LEUNG HING-YEE, DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL MS DORA WAI, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 December 2020 2183 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) LAYING OF PAPERS ON THE TABLE OF THE COUNCIL The following papers were laid on the table under Rule 21(2) of the Rules of Procedure: Subsidiary Legislation Legal Notice No. Shipping and Port Control (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2020 .................................................. 236 of 2020 Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2020 ............. 237 of 2020 Tax Reserve Certificates (Rate of Interest) (Consolidation) (Amendment) (No. 4) Notice 2020 .................................................................... 238 of 2020 Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 (Commencement) Notice ........................... 239 of 2020 Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) (Amendment) (No. 15) Regulation 2020 .................................................. 241 of 2020 Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulation 2020 ............. 242 of 2020 Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) (Amendment) Regulation 2020 .................................................. 243 of 2020 2184 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 December 2020 Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong (Amendment) (No. 8) Regulation 2020 ................................................. 244 of 2020 Prevention and Control of Disease (Disclosure of Information) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulation 2020 ................................................. 245 of 2020 Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulation 2020 .................................... 246 of 2020 Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) (Amendment) (No. 8) Regulation 2020 ............. 247 of 2020 Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) (Amendment) (No. 16) Regulation 2020 ................................................. 248 of 2020 Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2020 ............. 249 of 2020 Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulation 2020 ............. 250 of 2020 Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2020 .................................... 251 of 2020 Other Papers Hong Kong Housing Authority Annual Report 2019/20 Hong Kong Housing Authority Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2020 (including Report of the Director of Audit) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 December 2020 2185 Communications Authority Annual Report 2019-20 Independent Police Complaints Council Report 2019/20 (including Financial Statements and Independent Auditor's Report) Brewin Trust Fund Report of the Brewin Trust Fund Committee on the administration of the Fund, Financial Statements and Report of the Director of Audit for the year ended 30 June 2020 Chinese Temples Fund Report of the Chinese Temples Committee on the administration of the Fund, Financial Statements and Report of the Director of Audit for the year ended 31 March 2020 General Chinese Charities Fund Report of the Chinese Temples Committee on the administration of the Fund, Financial Statements and Report of the Director of Audit for the year ended 31 March 2020 Grantham Scholarships Fund Report of the Grantham Scholarships Fund Committee on the administration of the Fund, Financial Statements and Report of the Director of Audit for the year ended 31 August 2020 Occupational Safety and Health Council Annual Report 2019-2020 (including Financial Statements and Independent Auditor's Report) Report of changes made to the approved Estimates of Expenditure during the second quarter of 2020-21 Public Finance Ordinance: Section 8(8)(b) Report No. 5/20-21 of the House Committee on Consideration of Subsidiary Legislation and Other Instruments 2186 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 December 2020 ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Questions. First question. Quota-free scheme for Hong Kong private cars travelling to Guangdong 1. MR HOLDEN CHOW (in Cantonese): President, the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel is scheduled to be commissioned on the 27th of this month. In her 2020 Policy Address delivered last month, the Chief Executive indicated that the Government would, upon the commissioning of the said tunnel, implement a "Quota-free scheme for Hong Kong private cars travelling to Guangdong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge" ("Scheme for Hong Kong cars travelling to Guangdong") to allow eligible Hong Kong private cars to travel to and from the Guangdong Province via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge without regular quota. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the arrangements with regard to motor insurance and driving licences under the Scheme for Hong Kong cars travelling to Guangdong; what measures are in place to ensure that insurance premiums are to be set at levels that are affordable for the general public; (2) what technical issues are yet to be resolved at present; and (3) of the commencement date of the Scheme for Hong Kong cars travelling to Guangdong; whether it has assessed the impact on the commencement date brought about by the recent worsening of the epidemic situation in Hong Kong? SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING (in Cantonese): President, in consultation with the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, my reply to the question raised by Mr Holden CHOW is as follows: The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge ("HZMB") has been operating smoothly since its commissioning in October 2018. At present, about 80 000 cross-boundary vehicles from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, including LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 9 December 2020 2187 cross-boundary private cars and hire cars, Hong Kong Port shuttle buses, cross-boundary coaches, cross-boundary goods vehicles, etc. with relevant quotas and licences/permits are eligible to use HZMB. Since the promulgation of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by the Central Government in early 2019, various Central ministries have rolled out a number of measures to facilitate Hong Kong and Macao residents to work, live and study in the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area. During the meeting between the Chief Executive and the leaders of the Guangdong Province and Shenzhen municipality in November this year, both sides agreed to press ahead with the work in areas such as clearance facilitation, joint development of a quality living circle, etc.