LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 January 2005 3669 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Thursday, 27 January 2005 The Council continued to meet at Nine o'clock MEMBERS PRESENT: THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE MRS RITA FAN HSU LAI-TAI, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JAMES TIEN PEI-CHUN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALBERT HO CHUN-YAN IR DR THE HONOURABLE RAYMOND HO CHUNG-TAI, S.B.ST.J., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEE CHEUK-YAN THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LEE CHU-MING, S.C., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE DAVID LI KWOK-PO, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE FRED LI WAH-MING, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LUI MING-WAH, J.P. THE HONOURABLE MARGARET NG THE HONOURABLE MRS SELINA CHOW LIANG SHUK-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG MAN-KWONG 3670 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 January 2005 THE HONOURABLE CHAN YUEN-HAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE BERNARD CHAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN KAM-LAM, J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS SOPHIE LEUNG LAU YAU-FUN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG YIU-CHUNG THE HONOURABLE SIN CHUNG-KAI, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PHILIP WONG YU-HONG, G.B.S. THE HONOURABLE WONG YUNG-KAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE JASPER TSANG YOK-SING, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE HOWARD YOUNG, S.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE YEUNG SUM THE HONOURABLE LAU CHIN-SHEK, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU KONG-WAH, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU WONG-FAT, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MIRIAM LAU KIN-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE EMILY LAU WAI-HING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHOY SO-YUK THE HONOURABLE ANDREW CHENG KAR-FOO THE HONOURABLE TIMOTHY FOK TSUN-TING, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TAM YIU-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 January 2005 3671 THE HONOURABLE ABRAHAM SHEK LAI-HIM, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LI FUNG-YING, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE, J.P. THE HONOURABLE AUDREY EU YUET-MEE, S.C., J.P. THE HONOURABLE VINCENT FANG KANG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-HING, M.H. THE HONOURABLE LEE WING-TAT THE HONOURABLE LI KWOK-YING, M.H. DR THE HONOURABLE JOSEPH LEE KOK-LONG THE HONOURABLE DANIEL LAM WAI-KEUNG, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JEFFREY LAM KIN-FUNG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MA LIK, J.P. THE HONOURABLE ANDREW LEUNG KWAN-YUEN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALAN LEONG KAH-KIT, S.C. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG KWOK-HUNG DR THE HONOURABLE KWOK KA-KI DR THE HONOURABLE FERNANDO CHEUNG CHIU-HUNG THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG HOK-MING, S.B.S., J.P. 3672 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 January 2005 THE HONOURABLE WONG TING-KWONG, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE RONNY TONG KA-WAH, S.C. THE HONOURABLE CHIM PUI-CHUNG THE HONOURABLE PATRICK LAU SAU-SHING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALBERT JINGHAN CHENG THE HONOURABLE KWONG CHI-KIN THE HONOURABLE TAM HEUNG-MAN PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING: THE HONOURABLE DONALD TSANG YAM-KUEN, G.B.M., J.P. THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION THE HONOURABLE HENRY TANG YING-YEN, G.B.S., J.P. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE ELSIE LEUNG OI-SIE, G.B.M., J.P. THE SECRETARY FOR JUSTICE THE HONOURABLE JOSEPH WONG WING-PING, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE THE HONOURABLE STEPHEN IP SHU-KWAN, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LABOUR THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK MA SI-HANG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY THE HONOURABLE STEPHEN LAM SUI-LUNG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 January 2005 3673 THE HONOURABLE AMBROSE LEE SIU-KWONG, I.D.S.M., J.P. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY THE HONOURABLE JOHN TSANG CHUN-WAH, J.P. SECRETARY FOR COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY DR THE HONOURABLE YORK CHOW YAT-NGOK, S.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, WELFARE AND FOOD CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MR RICKY FUNG CHOI-CHEUNG, J.P., SECRETARY GENERAL MS PAULINE NG MAN-WAH, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MRS JUSTINA LAM CHENG BO-LING, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MR RAY CHAN YUM-MOU, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL 3674 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 January 2005 MEMBERS' MOTIONS MOTION OF THANKS Continuation of debate on motion which was moved on 26 January 2005 PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Clerk, a quorum is not present. Please ring the bell to summon Members to return to the Chamber. (After the summoning bell had been rung, a number of Members returned to the Chamber) PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Fine. Now a quorum is present. We shall continue with the first debate session. Mr Albert CHENG, you said you wanted to speak. I now call upon you to speak. MR ALBERT CHENG (in Cantonese): I have not indicated that I wish to speak today. PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Did you not say that you wanted to speak yesterday? MR ALBERT CHENG (in Cantonese): Besides me, several other Members had also indicated that they would like to speak, had they not? PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Right. MR ALBERT CHENG (in Cantonese): According to the Rules of Procedure, I think I have to press the button. But I still have not done so, nor have I raised my hand …… PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): You still wish to say something. Please go ahead. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 January 2005 3675 MR ALBERT CHENG (in Cantonese): If four Members have indicated their wish to speak …… PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): If you are not ready yet, you may ask "President, may I speak later?" MR ALBERT CHENG (in Cantonese): I would like to raise a question with you: As I have not pressed the button yet …… PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): You raised your hand yesterday, and that indicated your wish to speak this morning. Yesterday, I asked, "Does any Member wish to speak?" You did raise your hand then. MR ALBERT CHENG (in Cantonese): But several other Members also raised their hands at the same time. PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Yes, but you were the first who caught my attention. MR ALBERT CHENG (in Cantonese): Thank you, Madam President. But I am not ready yet. PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): You are not ready yet? Then, please sit down. MR MARTIN LEE (in Cantonese): Madam Deputy, I am sorry, please wait for a couple of minutes. I am prepared already, but as I have not pressed the button yet, so I still need a little time. I do not wish to stop halfway in my speech. Madam President, before the reunification, many Hong Kong people really worried whether they could continue to enjoy freedom. But insofar as the economic aspect was concerned, we were full of confidence. We thought that, 3676 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 January 2005 after the reunification, Hong Kong should act as the locomotive of the country, leading the country all the way towards the goals of four modernizations. We also said that Hong Kong was like a goose that could lay golden eggs — at the rate of one each day. We were so confident about the economic prospects of Hong Kong. However, it is most unexpected that, after the reunification, Hong Kong very often has to rely on the support of the Mainland, and such support is even in the economic aspect. Not only CEPA, but we also have the Individual Visit Scheme. Even a national leader mentioned that Mr TUNG had come for something again. As a result, the morale in Hong Kong has fallen to a very low level. The most unfortunate incident took place last year, on 20 December 2004. Over the television, we saw that the Chief Executives of both Hong Kong and Macao, together with the top officials of Hong Kong, all lined up in a row before our national leader who gave them a lecture. I felt most uncomfortable about this scene. It simply disgraced Hong Kong. In delivering his eighth policy address, the Chief Executive said that certain policies and measures adopted by the Government had no doubt caused the public pain and unease. He also admitted that the Government had been indecisive when dealing with emergencies, and these shortcomings and inadequacies have undermined the credibility of the policies made and their ability to govern. He then went on to say, "After much soul-searching and a review of the successes and failures of our governance, my colleagues and I have taken stock of experience gained and lessons learnt." I felt somewhat surprised at that juncture, asking myself, "Is he going to resign to assume responsibility for all those errors?" But, the answer was in the negative. I had underestimated our Chief Executive. He was very brave. He chose the difficult course of action — continuing to stay in his office as the Chief Executive. This is more challenging than the easier option — resignation. When I continued listening to his speech, I also heard that he was resolutely against "collusion between business and the Government" and would strictly eliminate any "transfer of benefits". What he fell short of doing was raising his arm in the air when he said those slogans. Apart from this, he had acted nearly like a member of the Democratic Party. (Laughter) But later, as I watched his press conference over the television, he denied it all. On the following day when he came to the Legislative Council, he LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 27 January 2005 3677 denied thrice the existence of any collusion between business and the Government, or any transfer of benefits.