LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 18 January 2006 3893 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 18 January 2006 The Council met at Eleven 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, S.B.S., 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 THE HONOURABLE CHAN YUEN-HAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE BERNARD CHAN, J.P. 3894 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 18 January 2006 THE HONOURABLE CHAN KAM-LAM, S.B.S., 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.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 CHOY SO-YUK, J.P. THE HONOURABLE ANDREW CHENG KAR-FOO THE HONOURABLE TAM YIU-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. 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 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 18 January 2006 3895 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, G.B.S., 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. 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 3896 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 18 January 2006 THE HONOURABLE KWONG CHI-KIN THE HONOURABLE TAM HEUNG-MAN MEMBER ABSENT: THE HONOURABLE TIMOTHY FOK TSUN-TING, G.B.S., J.P. PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING: THE HONOURABLE HENRY TANG YING-YEN, G.B.S., J.P. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL SUEN MING-YEUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, PLANNING AND LANDS PROF THE HONOURABLE ARTHUR LI KWOK-CHEUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER THE HONOURABLE STEPHEN IP SHU-KWAN, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LABOUR DR THE HONOURABLE SARAH LIAO SAU-TUNG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND WORKS THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK MA SI-HANG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY THE HONOURABLE AMBROSE LEE SIU-KWONG, I.D.S.M., J.P. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MR RICKY FUNG CHOI-CHEUNG, J.P., SECRETARY GENERAL MRS JUSTINA LAM CHENG BO-LING, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MR RAY CHAN YUM-MOU, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 18 January 2006 3897 TABLING OF PAPERS The following papers were laid on the table pursuant to Rule 21(2) of the Rules of Procedure: Subsidiary Legislation/Instruments L.N. No. Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution) (Charges for Discharge of Polluting Waste) (Charges Revision) Regulation 2006............... 8/2006 Civil Celebrant of Marriages Appointment Appeal Board Regulation .............................................. 9/2006 Marriage (Introduction of Civil Celebrants of Marriages and General Amendments) Ordinance (Commencement) Notice............................. 10/2006 Application for New Identity Cards (Persons Born in or before 1942, in 1990 to 1992 or 1997 to 2003) Order .................................................... 11/2006 Prisons (Amendment) Order 2006........................... 12/2006 Official Languages (Alteration of Text under Section 4D) (Reference to "sufficient proof" in the Probate and Administration Ordinance) Order ............. 13/2006 Revenue (Personalized Vehicle Registration Marks) Ordinance 2005 (Commencement) Notice ........ 14/2006 Other Papers No. 56 ─ Equal Opportunities Commission Annual Report 2004/05 No. 57 ─ Report on the Administration of the Fire Services Department Welfare Fund, together with the Director of Audit's Report and Audited Statement of Accounts, for the year ended 31 March 2005 3898 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 18 January 2006 No. 58 ─ Annual Report 2004-2005 of the Hospital Authority, which contains Statement of Accounts and Auditors' Report No. 59 ─ Report and Statement of Accounts of the Samaritan Fund, together with the Director of Audit's Report, for the year ended 31 March 2005 ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Questions. First question. Tourist Attractions in Hong Kong 1. MR WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese): President, in connection with advertising, promoting and managing tourist attractions and facilities in Hong Kong, will the Government inform this Council: (a) whether there is a government department with dedicated responsibilities for advertising, promoting and managing the existing tourist attractions in Hong Kong, including erecting signs, publishing articles on tourist attractions, and arranging cleansing, maintenance, repair and guided tour services, and so on; if so, of the department concerned; if not, which departments are sharing such responsibilities; (b) whether members of the public may express their views to the Commissioner for Tourism on the facilities and supporting services of existing tourist attractions; if so, whether the authorities have assessed if the Commissioner, at the current rank and with the existing powers, is able to co-ordinate various Policy Bureaux and government departments in dealing with such views; if the assessment results indicate that the Commissioner is unable to perform the co-ordinating role, how the authorities will assist the Commissioner in performing this role; and (c) of the mechanism in place for the public to put forward suggestions to the Commissioner regarding the identification of new tourist attractions and for the Commissioner to evaluate such suggestions? LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 18 January 2006 3899 SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LABOUR (in Cantonese): President, (a) There are many different types of tourist attractions and facilities in Hong Kong. Most of these facilities are managed and maintained by the relevant government departments which also provide guided tour service. For tourism projects or district enhancement schemes co-ordinated by the Tourism Commission, for example, the Wisdom Path, Hong Kong Wetland Park, beautification works for Sai Kung Waterfront, the Peak Improvement Scheme, and so on, the Tourism Commission will discuss with the relevant departments and decide at the planning stage on future management issues to ensure that the facilities would be properly managed and maintained after completion. For example, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will be responsible for the management, maintenance, and promotion of the Hong Kong Wetland Park as well as the provision of guided tour services. Regarding the division of work among departments on the management of tourist facilities, it depends on the nature of the facilities and the respective expertise and purview of the departments. The responsible departments will also provide appropriate supplementary services, for example, information boards, guided tour service, and so on, to enhance visitors' knowledge and appreciation of the attractions or facilities. For example, the Space Museum, Science Museum, Cultural Centre and other museums are managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). The LCSD also provides guided tour service at the facilities, and produces publications to introduce them. Regarding marketing and promotion, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) works closely with the tourism trade to market and promote Hong Kong tourism worldwide. Its promotion activities include organizing road shows and exhibitions in the Mainland and overseas; arranging familiarization visits by the overseas travel trade to Hong Kong; as well as promoting the tourism projects, attractions and facilities in Hong Kong in order to attract overseas 3900 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 18 January 2006 visitors. The HKTB also produces publications for distribution to the travel trade and visitors. Information about the tourist attractions and facilities has already been uploaded onto the websites of the Tourism Commission and the HKTB, which are also hyperlinked to concerned departments' websites, for the information of the public and visitors. (b) Under the existing mechanism, members of the public who have views on how to improve existing tourist attractions and their complementary services, can send their comments to the concerned departments or to the Tourism Commission. Upon receipt of such suggestions, the Tourism Commission will refer them to the relevant department and will co-ordinate follow-up action with the departments concerned as necessary. (c) The Tourism Commission welcomes public comments on the enhancement of tourism development and construction of new tourist facilities in Hong Kong. The public can send their comments and suggestions in writing or through the website of the Tourism Commission.