立法會 Legislative Council LC Paper No. FC135/20-21 (These minutes have been seen by the Administration) Ref : FC/1/1(45) Finance Committee of the Legislative Council Minutes of the 46th meeting held at Conference Room 1 of the Legislative Council Complex on Monday, 28 September 2020, from 9:00 am to 1:02 pm; and from 2:33 pm to 5:22 pm Members present: Hon CHAN Kin-por, GBS, JP (Chairman) Hon CHAN Chun-ying, JP (Deputy Chairman) Hon James TO Kun-sun Hon LEUNG Yiu-chung Hon Abraham SHEK Lai-him, GBS, JP Hon Tommy CHEUNG Yu-yan, GBS, JP Prof Hon Joseph LEE Kok-long, SBS, JP Hon Jeffrey LAM Kin-fung, GBS, JP Hon WONG Ting-kwong, GBS, JP Hon Starry LEE Wai-king, SBS, JP Hon CHAN Hak-kan, BBS, JP Dr Hon Priscilla LEUNG Mei-fun, SBS, JP Hon WONG Kwok-kin, SBS, JP Hon Mrs Regina IP LAU Suk-yee, GBS, JP Hon Paul TSE Wai-chun, JP Hon Claudia MO Hon Michael TIEN Puk-sun, BBS, JP Hon Steven HO Chun-yin, BBS Hon Frankie YICK Chi-ming, SBS, JP Hon WU Chi-wai, MH Hon YIU Si-wing, BBS Hon MA Fung-kwok, SBS, JP Hon Charles Peter MOK, JP Hon CHAN Chi-chuen - 2 - Hon CHAN Han-pan, BBS, JP Hon LEUNG Che-cheung, SBS, MH, JP Hon Kenneth LEUNG Hon Alice MAK Mei-kuen, BBS, JP Dr Hon KWOK Ka-ki Hon KWOK Wai-keung, JP Hon Dennis KWOK Wing-hang Hon Christopher CHEUNG Wah-fung, SBS, JP Dr Hon Fernando CHEUNG Chiu-hung Dr Hon Helena WONG Pik-wan Hon IP Kin-yuen Hon Elizabeth QUAT, BBS, JP Hon Martin LIAO Cheung-kong, GBS, JP Hon POON Siu-ping, BBS, MH Dr Hon CHIANG Lai-wan, SBS, JP Ir Dr Hon LO Wai-kwok, SBS, MH, JP Hon Alvin YEUNG Hon Andrew WAN Siu-kin Hon CHU Hoi-dick Hon Jimmy NG Wing-ka, BBS, JP Dr Hon Junius HO Kwan-yiu, JP Hon HO Kai-ming Hon LAM Cheuk-ting Hon Holden CHOW Ho-ding Hon SHIU Ka-fai, JP Hon SHIU Ka-chun Hon Wilson OR Chong-shing, MH Hon YUNG Hoi-yan, JP Dr Hon Pierre CHAN Hon Tanya CHAN Hon CHEUNG Kwok-kwan, JP Hon HUI Chi-fung Hon LUK Chung-hung, JP Hon LAU Kwok-fan, MH Hon Kenneth LAU Ip-keung, BBS, MH, JP Dr Hon CHENG Chung-tai Hon KWONG Chun-yu Hon Jeremy TAM Man-ho Hon Vincent CHENG Wing-shun, MH, JP Hon Tony TSE Wai-chuen, BBS Member absent: Hon CHUNG Kwok-pan - 3 - [According to the announcement made by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government on 11 November 2020 pursuant to the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Issues Relating to the Qualification of the Members of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Kenneth LEUNG, KWOK Ka-ki, Dennis KWOK Wing-hang and Alvin YEUNG were disqualified from being a member of Legislative Council on 30 July 2020.] Public officers attending: Mr Christopher Hui Ching-yu Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Mr Joseph CHAN Ho-lim Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Mr Raistlin LAU Chun, JP Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury)1 Mr Mike CHENG Wai-man Principal Executive Officer (General), Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (The Treasury Branch) Mr Matthew CHEUNG Chief Secretary for Administration Kin-chung, GBM, GBS, JP Ms Angelina KWAN Yuen-yee, Head, Human Resources Planning and JP Poverty Co-ordination Unit, Chief Secretary for Administration's Private Office Miss Carrie CHANG Kar-wai Administrative Assistant to Chief Secretary for Administration Mr Edward YAU Tang-wah, Secretary for Commerce and GBS, JP Economic Development Dr Bernard CHAN Pak-li, JP Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Mr Joe WONG Chi-cho, JP Commissioner for Tourism Mr Patrick NIP Tak-kuen, JP Secretary for the Civil Service Mr Kevin YEUNG Yun-hung, JP Secretary for Education Dr CHOI Yuk-lin, JP Under Secretary for Education Prof Sophia CHAN Siu-chee, JP Secretary for Food and Health Miss Amy YUEN Wai-yin, JP Deputy Secretary for Food and Health (Health)2 Miss Vivian LAU Lee-kwan, JP Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene Dr Constance CHAN Hon-yee, JP Director of Health Dr Tony KO Pat-sing Chief Executive, Hospital Authority Mr Caspar TSUI Ying-wai, JP Secretary for Home Affairs Dr David CHUNG Wai-keung, JP Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology Dr LAW Chi-kwong, GBS, JP Secretary for Labour and Welfare - 4 - Ms PANG Kit-ling Assistant Director of Social Welfare (Family and Child Welfare) Mr Frank CHAN Fan, JP Secretary for Transport and Housing Miss Rosanna LAW Shuk-pui, JP Commissioner for Transport Mr LIU Chun-san, JP Under Secretary for Development Clerk in attendance: Ms Anita SIT Assistant Secretary General 1 Staff in attendance: Ms Angel SHEK Chief Council Secretary(1)1 Miss Bowie LAM Council Secretary (1)1 Ms Alice CHEUNG Senior Legislative Assistant (1)1 Mr Frankie WOO Senior Legislative Assistant (1)3 Miss Yannes HO Legislative Assistant (1)7 Ms Haley CHEUNG Legislative Assistant (1)10 ____________________________________________________________ Action The Deputy Chairman reminded members of the requirements under Rule 83A and Rule 84 of the Rules of Procedure. Item 1 ― FCR(2020-21)71 HEAD 142 ― GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT: OFFICES OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCIAL SECRETARY Subhead 700 General non-recurrent Item 803 Anti-epidemic Fund HEAD 37 ― DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Subhead 700 General non-recurrent New item "Procurement and Administration of coronavirus disease-2019 Vaccines" HEAD 140 ― GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT: FOOD AND HEALTH BUREAU (HEALTH BRANCH) Subhead 000 Operational expenses Subhead 700 General non-recurrent New Item "Special Support Scheme for Hospital Authority's chronic disease patients living in the Guangdong Action - 5 - Province to sustain their medical consultation under coronavirus disease-2019" HEAD 170 ― SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT Subhead 700 General non-recurrent Item 809 Special Scheme of Assistance to the Unemployed Item 811 Short-term food assistance Continuation of the discussion on FCR(2020-21)71 2. The Finance Committee ("FC") continued with the discussion on FCR(2020-21)71. 3. The Deputy Chairman advised that this item sought the approval of FC for: (a) an increase in commitment by $5.4 billion from $150.5 billion to $155.9 billion under Head 142 Government Secretariat: Offices of the Chief Secretary for Administration and Financial Secretary Subhead 700 General non-recurrent Item 803 for injection into the Anti-epidemic Fund ("AEF") to provide funding for enhancing the capability in combating the epidemic, and providing targeted relief to individuals and businesses hard hit by the coronavirus disease-2019 ("COVID-19") epidemic and directly affected by the Government's anti-epidemic and social distancing measures; (b) creation of a new commitment of $8,441.3 million under Head 37 Department of Health ("DH") Subhead 700 General non-recurrent for procurement and administration of vaccines against the epidemic; (c) under Head 140 Government Secretariat: Food and Health Bureau (Health Branch) – (i) a supplementary provision of $2,019 million under Subhead 000 Operational expenses in 2020-2021 to provide additional subvention to the Hospital Authority ("HA") to combat the winter surge or the next wave of epidemic; and (ii) a new commitment of $103.8 million under Subhead 700 General non-recurrent for setting up a designated fund to implement a special support scheme to provide subsidized consultation sessions at the University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital ("HKUSZH") for HA's chronic disease patients who are unable to return to Hong Kong for receiving their scheduled medical consultations in Action - 6 - HA owing to travel restrictions during the COVID-19 outbreak; (d) an increase in commitment by $127 million from $1,132 million to $1,259 million under Head 170 Social Welfare Department Subhead 700 General non-recurrent Item 811 to meet the increase in demand for short-term food assistance; and (e) an extension of the Special Scheme of Assistance to the Unemployed under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme ("CSSA") for six months from 1 December 2020 to 31 May 2021, with the expenditure to be met with existing provisions under Head 170 Social Welfare Department Subhead 700 General non-recurrent Item 809 Special Scheme of Assistance to the Unemployed. 4. The Deputy Chairman stated that before the end of the last meeting (25 September), Mr Alvin YEUNG had around one minute left in the third round of his speaking time (three minutes). He would allow Mr YEUNG to ask first. Procurement and administration of vaccines 5. Mr POON Siu-ping stated that he supported the Government in its allocation of resources to reserve/procure vaccines and to support HA in dealing with the winter surge or the next wave of epidemic. Mr CHAN Chi-chuen and Mr LEUNG Yiu-chung enquired about the basis of calculation of the estimated expenditure of $8,441.3 million on reserving/procuring vaccines. Mr Wilson OR enquired about the reasons for the Government to set aside contingency funds up to $555 million for the procurement of vaccines. Mr LEUNG enquired why the Administration suggested that two doses of vaccine were needed for each member of the public, and suggested the Government use part of the commitment first to assist people who had yet to benefit from any anti-epidemic measures. If the commitment for reserving/procuring vaccines was insufficient in the future, the Government could apply for additional funding from FC. 6. Secretary for Food and Health ("SFH") stated that the Joint Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases ("the Joint Scientific Committees") under DH suggested that all Hong Kong people receive COVID-19 vaccination to effectively prevent infection.