LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 25 March 2020 5187 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 25 March 2020 The Council met at Eleven o'clock MEMBERS PRESENT: THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE ANDREW LEUNG KWAN-YUEN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN THE HONOURABLE LEUNG YIU-CHUNG THE HONOURABLE ABRAHAM SHEK LAI-HIM, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN, G.B.S., J.P. PROF THE HONOURABLE JOSEPH LEE KOK-LONG, S.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. 5188 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 25 March 2020 THE HONOURABLE PAUL TSE WAI-CHUN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CLAUDIA MO THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL TIEN PUK-SUN, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE STEVEN HO CHUN-YIN, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE FRANKIE YICK CHI-MING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WU CHI-WAI, M.H. THE HONOURABLE YIU SI-WING, B.B.S. 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, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG CHE-CHEUNG, S.B.S., M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE KENNETH LEUNG THE HONOURABLE ALICE MAK MEI-KUEN, B.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE KWOK KA-KI THE HONOURABLE KWOK WAI-KEUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE DENNIS KWOK WING-HANG THE HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER CHEUNG WAH-FUNG, S.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE FERNANDO CHEUNG CHIU-HUNG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 25 March 2020 5189 DR THE HONOURABLE HELENA WONG PIK-WAN THE HONOURABLE IP KIN-YUEN 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 ALVIN YEUNG THE HONOURABLE ANDREW WAN SIU-KIN THE HONOURABLE CHU HOI-DICK THE HONOURABLE JIMMY NG WING-KA, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE HO KAI-MING THE HONOURABLE LAM CHEUK-TING THE HONOURABLE HOLDEN CHOW HO-DING THE HONOURABLE SHIU KA-FAI, J.P. THE HONOURABLE SHIU KA-CHUN THE HONOURABLE WILSON OR CHONG-SHING, M.H. THE HONOURABLE YUNG HOI-YAN, J.P. 5190 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 25 March 2020 DR THE HONOURABLE PIERRE CHAN THE HONOURABLE CHAN CHUN-YING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE TANYA CHAN THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG KWOK-KWAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE HUI CHI-FUNG THE HONOURABLE LUK CHUNG-HUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU KWOK-FAN, M.H. DR THE HONOURABLE CHENG CHUNG-TAI THE HONOURABLE KWONG CHUN-YU THE HONOURABLE JEREMY TAM MAN-HO THE HONOURABLE VINCENT CHENG WING-SHUN, M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TONY TSE WAI-CHUEN, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE CHAN HOI-YAN MEMBERS ABSENT: THE HONOURABLE MRS REGINA IP LAU SUK-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE JUNIUS HO KWAN-YIU, J.P. THE HONOURABLE KENNETH LAU IP-KEUNG, B.B.S., M.H., J.P. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 25 March 2020 5191 PUBLIC OFFICER ATTENDING: THE HONOURABLE JAMES HENRY LAU JR., J.P. SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MISS ODELIA LEUNG HING-YEE, DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL MISS FLORA TAI YIN-PING, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL 5192 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 25 March 2020 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 SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION ON THE TABLE OF THE COUNCIL The following items of subsidiary legislation were laid on the table under Rule 21(2) of the Rules of Procedure: Subsidiary Legislation Legal Notice No. Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation ............... 24 of 2020 Rules of the High Court (Amendment) Rules 2020 ....... 25 of 2020 Rules of the District Court (Amendment) Rules 2020 ... 26 of 2020 Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong (Amendment) Regulation 2020 ...... 28 of 2020 GOVERNMENT MOTION PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Government motion. At the meeting of 18 March 2020, Council already commenced the joint debate on the proposed resolution under the Public Finance Ordinance and the four amending motions. During the meeting, Mr CHU Hoi-dick moved a motion under Rule 40(1) of the Rules of Procedure that "the debate be now adjourned". Council now continues the debate on the adjournment motion. Mr Charles Peter MOK, please speak. (Mr Andrew WAN indicated his wish to raise a point of order) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 25 March 2020 5193 PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Mr Andrew WAN, what is your point of order? MR ANDREW WAN (in Cantonese): President, originally, I appreciated very much the decision you made earlier in the light of the epidemic, because you mentioned that having colleagues work in the Legislative Council Complex would put 500 to 600 families at high risk. I believe that most of the Honourable colleagues and staff members in the Complex agree with this point, but what strikes me as weird is that―President, I have a reason for it; please patiently give me one minute to explain―since you have cancelled the regular meeting for the purpose of epidemic prevention as you have just said, why do you hold this special meeting? I cannot get my head around the reasoning behind it. President, more importantly, this move will set a bad precedent for the rules of order. If this was the right approach, in future you would … PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Mr Andrew WAN, please sit down. MR ANDREW WAN (in Cantonese): President, please let me finish. You have to know what my point of order is. If you can do so, you can simply open an "express channel" in future to discuss whatever issue you like without holding any questioning session, nor having to follow the normal procedure. Today, many Honourable colleagues' questions are related to the epidemic but President has cancelled the questioning session and opened an "express channel". If this move sets a precedent, will it not be dangerous in future? President, please answer my question. Thank you. PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): First, regarding the issue of meeting arrangements that you have just raised, actually as early as the 16th of this month, I already had a discussion with Members' representatives on the meeting arrangements amid the intensifying epidemic. At the time, Members' representatives all agreed that the last meeting should have been adjourned if this Vote on Account Resolution moved under the Public Finance Ordinance had been completely dealt with. 5194 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 25 March 2020 Admittedly, I did suggest in private to Members that if this proposed resolution could be completely dealt with at the meeting of 18 March, I would consider not holding any meeting in the following week, but I had not officially indicated that I would cancel today's meeting. Secondly, on Monday this week, I also had a discussion with Members' representatives on the arrangements for this week's meeting. At the time, Members did not raise any objections to the arrangements. It is in accordance with the arrangements made in consultation with Members that I hold this meeting to continue dealing with the Vote on Account Resolution moved under the Public Finance Ordinance. Last night, I also issued a letter responding to Members' queries. I call on Members not to comment on my ruling any more. (Ms Tanya CHAN indicated her wish to speak) PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Ms Tanya CHAN, what is your point? MS TANYA CHAN (in Cantonese): President, I have to make a clarification because you mentioned … I believe that, as the convenor, I can speak on behalf of the democratic camp. Together with 21 Members, I made our stance very clear in the letter. As you said just now, you have already made a reply. I have sent this letter to the media and our stance has been made very clear in it. Thank you. PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Mr Charles Peter MOK, please speak. PROPOSED RESOLUTION UNDER THE PUBLIC FINANCE ORDINANCE Continuation of debate on motion which was moved on 18 March 2020 Continuation of debate on motion which was moved on 19 March 2020 under Rule 40(1) of the Rules of Procedure that the debate be now adjourned MR CHARLES PETER MOK (in Cantonese): President, I speak in support of the adjournment motion proposed by Mr CHU Hoi-dick. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ― 25 March 2020 5195 We are here to continue the deliberation on the Vote on Account Resolution of the Budget today, and according to the comments made by many fellow colleagues of the pro-establishment camp in the past and at present, this is just a routine. In fact, what can still be regarded as a routine under the circumstances today? If the processing of the resolution is considered a matter of routine, this is to a certain extent a grave disrespect for our work in this Council, because the proposal must undergo our thorough deliberation. Many Members raised various queries last Wednesday and Thursday and explained why the resolution was considered to be plagued with problems, and if we still regard this as a matter of routine, I do not think we can hold ourselves accountable to the public.