Working Reports

The LegCo President received 2,160 amendments to the Appropriation Bill 2016 for the Government’s expenditure. He finally approved 407 amendments for the meeting to vote. On 13 May, the LegCo approved the Bill. Forty-nine lawmakers voted for the Bill while eighteen rejected it. In my speech, I expressed my support to the Bill and criticized the filibuster that delayed passing of the Bill and caused adverse effect to the Government’s operations and public services.

 

2. Construction sector appealed against filibustering

On 8 May, the construction sector organized a parade to express their discontent against filibustering in the LegCo. About five thousands construction workers and professionals marched from Chater Garden to the Legco Complex at Tamar and accused the continuous filibustering in the past three years, delaying funding approval for public works projects. As the latest unemployment rate in the construction industry has reached 5.4 percent, the industry worried that if filibustering continues, more construction workers and professionals will lose their jobs. At the end of the parade, I received their petition as Chairman of the Public Works Subcommittee (PWSC).

 

Progress of funding approval of public works projects has improved recently in the PWSC and the Finance Committee (FC). The PWSC so far has approved funding of $47 billion for new public works projects, about $30 billion of them are still waiting for approval of the FC. Other funding proposals approved at the FC include: the additional funding proposal of $5.4 billion of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities, an increase of $19.6 billion in the projects estimate for the Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, block allocations of $12.8 billion for the 2016-17 under the Capital Works Reserve Fund and an increase of $0.43 billion for the 2015-16 Capital Works Reserve Fund.

 

 

3. Report on the Bills Committee on Promotion of Recycling and Proper Disposal (Product Container) (Amendment) Bill 2015

As Chairman of the Bills Committee, I delivered a report at the LegCo meeting on 26 May. The Bills Committee has held five meetings to discuss with the Administration, and received views from deputations/individuals. The Bills Committee delibarated on the scope of regulations, charging of recycling levy, treatment of waste glass containers, and costs and benefits of the proposed mandatory producer responsibility schemes. The Bills Committee has examined and raised no objection to the CSAs to be moved by the Administration. The Bill was passed on 27 May. 

 

4. Subcommittee on Waste Disposal (Designated Waste Disposal Facility) Regulation (Amendment of Schedule 1) Notice 2016 and Waste Disposal (Charges for Disposal of Construction Waste) Regulation (Amendment of Schedule 4) Notice 2016

The Subcommittee was set up on 18 May and discussed the administration’s proposal on amending the boundaries of the Tseung Kwan O Area 137 Fill Bank and the plan to make use of the land taken out from the boundaries for storage of idling cargo compartments. Members supported the measures but also expressed concerns on potential traffic impact, closing time to meet operation needs, and long term regulatory measures on cargo compartments operations. I joined the Subcommittee in May. Only one meeting was held and scrutiny of Regulations was completed.

 

5. Subcommittee on Waste Disposal (Charges for Disposal of Construction Waste) Regulation (Amendment of Schedules) Notice 2016

The Subcommittee was set up on 24 May and discussed the increasing on the public fill charge, the sorting charge and the landfill charge, which have not been adjusted since introduction in 2006. The Amendment Notice was published in the Gazette on 6 May 2016 and the new construction waste disposal charges will effect from 7 April 2017. Members expressed concerns about possible aggravation of fly-tipping of construction waste and illegal land filling following the charges increase, and about the charging level. I joined the Subcommittee in May.

 

6. Visited new East Rail Line train

On 23 May, the Subcommittee on Matters Relating to Railways visited the MTR Ho Tung Lau Depot at Fo Tan to tour the new East Rail Line train. Members got on the new nine-car train and were briefed on the design and new facilities of the train, including the light-emitting diode interior lighting, passenger information systems, custom-made dynamic route maps and improved grab poles.  During the visit, Members were satisfied with the improvement facilities but expressed concerns on issues relating to the capacity of the new train as well as the testing of the signaling systems.

 

 

7. Officiated at the opening ceremony of Hong Kong's first self-sustained sludge treatment facility, T·PARK

On 19 May, together with the Chief Executive, the Secretary for the Environment and Chairman of the Panel on Environmental Affairs, I officiated the opening ceremony of Hong Kong’s first self-sustained sludge treatment facility, T·PARK. With a well-designed self-sustaining operational system, T·PARK combines a variety of advanced technologies into a single complex, bringing together sludge incinerators with a treatment capacity of up to 2000 tonnes of sludge per day, with power generation, desalination, educational and ecological facilities to showcase the benefits of the waste-to-energy approach in waste management.