LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 21 March 2012 6961 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 21 March 2012 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 IR DR THE HONOURABLE RAYMOND HO CHUNG-TAI, S.B.S., S.B.ST.J., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEE CHEUK-YAN DR THE HONOURABLE DAVID LI KWOK-PO, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE FRED LI WAH-MING, S.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE MARGARET NG THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG MAN-KWONG THE HONOURABLE CHAN KAM-LAM, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS SOPHIE LEUNG LAU YAU-FUN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG YIU-CHUNG DR THE HONOURABLE PHILIP WONG YU-HONG, G.B.S. 6962 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 21 March 2012 THE HONOURABLE WONG YUNG-KAN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU KONG-WAH, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU WONG-FAT, G.B.M., 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 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. THE HONOURABLE LI FUNG-YING, S.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 AUDREY EU YUET-MEE, S.C., J.P. THE HONOURABLE VINCENT FANG KANG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-HING, M.H. THE HONOURABLE LEE WING-TAT DR THE HONOURABLE JOSEPH LEE KOK-LONG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JEFFREY LAM KIN-FUNG, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ANDREW LEUNG KWAN-YUEN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG HOK-MING, G.B.S., J.P. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 21 March 2012 6963 THE HONOURABLE WONG TING-KWONG, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE RONNY TONG KA-WAH, S.C. THE HONOURABLE CHIM PUI-CHUNG PROF THE HONOURABLE PATRICK LAU SAU-SHING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE KAM NAI-WAI, M.H. THE HONOURABLE CYD HO SAU-LAN DR THE HONOURABLE LAM TAI-FAI, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE PAUL CHAN MO-PO, M.H., J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN KIN-POR, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PRISCILLA LEUNG MEI-FUN, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LEUNG KA-LAU THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG KWOK-CHE THE HONOURABLE WONG SING-CHI THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-KIN, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE IP WAI-MING, M.H. THE HONOURABLE IP KWOK-HIM, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS REGINA IP LAU SUK-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PAN PEY-CHYOU THE HONOURABLE PAUL TSE WAI-CHUN, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE SAMSON TAM WAI-HO, J.P. 6964 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 21 March 2012 THE HONOURABLE ALAN LEONG KAH-KIT, S.C. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG KWOK-HUNG THE HONOURABLE ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP THE HONOURABLE WONG YUK-MAN MEMBERS ABSENT: THE HONOURABLE ABRAHAM SHEK LAI-HIM, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE STARRY LEE WAI-KING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHAN HAK-KAN THE HONOURABLE TANYA CHAN PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING: THE HONOURABLE STEPHEN LAM SUI-LUNG, G.B.S., J.P. THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION THE HONOURABLE JOHN TSANG CHUN-WAH, G.B.M., J.P. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL SUEN MING-YEUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION THE HONOURABLE AMBROSE LEE SIU-KWONG, G.B.S., I.D.S.M., J.P. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY DR THE HONOURABLE YORK CHOW YAT-NGOK, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR FOOD AND HEALTH LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 21 March 2012 6965 THE HONOURABLE MATTHEW CHEUNG KIN-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND WELFARE PROF THE HONOURABLE K C CHAN, S.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY THE HONOURABLE MRS CARRIE LAM CHENG YUET-NGOR, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT THE HONOURABLE EVA CHENG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING THE HONOURABLE RAYMOND TAM CHI-YUEN, J.P. SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AND MAINLAND AFFAIRS PROF LAU SIU-KAI, J.P. HEAD, CENTRAL POLICY UNIT MR KENNETH CHEN WEI-ON, J.P. UNDER SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MS PAULINE NG MAN-WAH, SECRETARY GENERAL MRS CONSTANCE LI TSOI YEUK-LIN, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MRS JUSTINA LAM CHENG BO-LING, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MRS PERCY MA, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL 6966 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 21 March 2012 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. Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Civic Centres) (Amendment of Thirteenth Schedule) Order 2012 ............................................................. 31/2012 Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules 1 and 2) Order 2012 ............................................... 38/2012 Companies Ordinance (Amendment of Eighth Schedule) Order 2012 ............................................................. 39/2012 Veterinary Surgeons Registration Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Order 2012 ......................................... 40/2012 Education Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 3) Notice 2012............................................................ 41/2012 Other Papers No. 77 ─ HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund Financial statements together with the Report of the Director of Audit for the year ended 31 August 2011 No. 78 ─ Hong Kong Rotary Club Students' Loan Fund Financial statements together with the Report of the Director of Audit for the year ended 31 August 2011 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 21 March 2012 6967 No. 79 ─ Sing Tao Charitable Foundation Students' Loan Fund Financial statements together with the Report of the Director of Audit for the year ended 31 August 2011 No. 80 ─ The Lord Wilson Heritage Trust Annual Report 2010-2011 No. 81 ─ Quality Education Fund Financial statements together with the Report of the Director of Audit for the year ended 31 August 2011 No. 82 ─ Education Development Fund Financial statements together with the Report of the Director of Audit for the year ended 31 August 2011 Report No. 14/11-12 of the House Committee on Consideration of Subsidiary Legislation and Other Instruments ADDRESSES PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Addresses. Mr LEE Wing-tat, Mr WONG Sing-chi and the Secretary for Transport and Housing will respectively address the Council on six items of subsidiary legislation in relation to the Public Bus Services Ordinance, which were laid on the table of the Council on 1 February 2012. Schedule of Routes (Citybus Limited) Order 2012, Schedule of Routes (Citybus Limited) (North Lantau and Chek Lap Kok Airport) Order 2012, Schedule of Routes (Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited) Order 2012, Schedule of Routes (Long Win Bus Company Limited) Order 2012, Schedule of Routes (New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited) Order 2012 and Schedule of Routes (New World First Bus Services Limited) Order 2012 MR LEE WING-TAT (in Cantonese): President, today, I will address the Council on six items of subsidiary legislation concerning changes to bus routes. The six Orders are the Schedule of Routes (Citybus Limited) Order 2012, Schedule of Routes (Citybus Limited) (North Lantau and Chek Lap Kok Airport) Order 2012, Schedule of Routes (Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited) 6968 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 21 March 2012 Order 2012, Schedule of Routes (Long Win Bus Company Limited) Order 2012, Schedule of Routes (New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited) Order 2012 and Schedule of Routes (New World First Bus Services Limited) Order 2012. The six Orders formalize the changes introduced to the bus routes of the relevant franchised bus companies. The changes have been made to better serve the travelling public and improve the efficiency of bus operation. In my view, the Government should not give a narrow description of the scope and essence of the six Orders. The "updated schedules of routes" only refers to the administrative aspects of the six Orders, the Government should, through these six Orders, better serve the travelling public and improve the efficiency of bus operation. Generally speaking, I believe members of the Subcommittee to scrutinize the Six Orders and the Government would want to enhance the overall quality of bus services. Apart from routes, I think the accuracy of service schedules is also an important aspect in enhancing service quality and operation efficiency. Hence, apart from introducing changes to bus routes by means of the six Orders, the Government should set a clear and objective benchmark for the lost trip rates of bus routes, so as to enhance the accuracy of service schedules. Originally, I intend to move an amendment to the six Orders to set a clear and objective benchmark for the lost trip rates of bus services. The proposed amendment is to amend the six Orders by adding a benchmark for deviation from the relevant Schedule of Services, so as to ensure that the lost trip rates of bus companies can be kept at an acceptable level. I proposed to set the benchmark at 3% and suggested that if the average quarterly lost trip rates of any specified bus route of bus companies exceed 3%, the bus company should be deemed by the Chief Executive in Council as having failed to maintain a proper and efficient public bus service in respect of that specified route. Unfortunately, the Government has not proposed a relevant amendment or set a benchmark for the lost trip rates.