WK Lo’s LegCo Express (Feb 2016)
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WK LO's LegCo Express
Feb 2016
1. Responses to the Policy Address 2016
The Chief Executive delivered his Policy Address 2016 on 13 Jan and brought forward a number of specific proposals in the areas of innovation and technology, infrastructure, lands and housing supply, environmental protection and conservation, etc. The challenge is how to effectively implement these policies and measures.
At the 3-Day LegCo Debate on the 2016 Policy Address from 17 to 19 Feb, I delivered two speeches totally 30 minutes covering the areas of economic development, housing and planning, transportation, environmental affairs, and innovation and technology, etc. I pointed out in my speeches that the bright spot of the Policy Address is innovation and technology. The plan to develop Hong Kong into a Smart City is a step in the right direction. However, the Wi-Fi coverage and speed in public areas should improve as soon as possible. It is too slow to double that in three years. I welcome the initiation to set up additional funding schemes on Innovation and Technology, and urge the Government to increase the R&D spending to GDP ratio from the current 0.7% to 2.5%. I support the Hong Kong 2030: Planning Vision and Strategy Study, and urge the Government to roll out a comprehensive infrastructure blueprint. You are welcome to view my speeches via these links:
2. Completion of scrutiny of the Bills Committee on Promotion of Recycling and Proper Disposal (Product Container) (Amendment) Bill 2015
The Bills Committee has completed the deliberations on this Bill in Feb and in general supports the Administration's initiative to amend the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance to provide for the collection of a recycling levy on the glass beverage containers, and to amend the Waste Disposal Ordinance to regulate the disposal of such containers. In the course of deliberation, members expressed views and concerns on the definition of beverage, definition of supplier, on the disposal, recycling and reuse of glass containers, and on the compliance costs, etc. As Chairman of the Bills Committee, I will deliver a report at the LegCo meeting later.
3. Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014 was shelved
The Copyright (Amendment) Bill was shelved after three months of filibustering driven by the pan-democratic council members. The Administration would place the Bill at the end of the legislative agenda and would not restart consultations during the rest of the current term of the LegCo. I support the Bill which has been revised time and again to balance the interests of creators, copyright owners and copyright users after 10 years of consultation and discussion. The Government amendments are to provide more safeguards for different parties, not only to protect intellectual property, but also to specifically provide users with various exemptions. The filibustering ended up in a loss-loss situation to all parties involved.
4. Bills Committee on Fire Services (Amendment) Bill 2015
The Bill seeks to make regulations for a scheme for fire safety risk assessment and certification on compliance with fire safety requirements, by registered fire engineers (RFEs) for certain premises. The Bill seeks to introduce the RFE scheme so that qualified persons in the private market may also provide such risk assessment and certification services. A Bills Committee was formed to study the Bill in detail. I joined the Bills Committee in Feb.
5. Subcommittee on Rating (Exemption) Order 2016
In the 2016-2017 Budget, the Financial Secretary announced three one-off relief measures, one of which is the proposal to waive rates for four quarters of 2016-2017 subject to a ceiling of $1,000 per quarter for each rateable property. The Administration estimates that the proposed rates exemption will benefit about 3.17 million properties liable to rates payment and reduce government revenue by $11 billion. The magnitude of revenue forgone exceeds that for the rates exemption measure in the past two years. Furthermore, when compared with the measure in the past two years, the proposed measure this year will bring more benefits to properties with lower rateable values. The rates exemption measure will be effective from 1 April 2016. At the House Committee meeting held on 26 Feb, members agreed to form the Subcommittee to study the Order in detail. I joined the Subcommittee in March.
