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WK Lo’s LegCo Express
December 2016
1. Amendment to motion on “Updating the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines and increasing community facilities to enhance living environment”
I moved an amendment to the motion “Updating the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines and increasing community facilities to enhance living environment” on 7 Dec 2016 to urge the Government to enhance long-term integrated town planning, implement a comprehensive and balanced industrial policy, increase the provision of sites and infrastructure support for industrial and commercial industries, set up a dedicated fund for enhancement of community facilities. I also suggested the Administration review and enhance the public consultation system and improve and streamline the planning procedures and implementation mechanism. The original motion and my amendment got supports from the LegCo members and passed.
For my speech, please view the link (Chinese only):
http://www.irdrwklo.hk/articlesview.asp?ClassID=2&ArticleID=354
2. Elected Chairman of Bills Committee on Fire Services (Amendment) Bill 2016
The Administration introduced the Fire Services (Amendment) Bill 2016 (the 2016 Bill) into LegCo on 30 Nov 2016. The 2016 Bill is by and large a replica of the 2015 Bill but has incorporated the then agreed Committee stage amendments that regulations made by the CE in Council for the Registered Fire Engineer (RFE) Scheme and for regulating the RFEs, except those concerning fees to be charged in relation to the registration and de-registration of RFEs, are to be subject to the positive vetting procedure. Since the Bill seeks to provide for a statutory framework for the new scheme for fire safety risk assessment and certification by RFEs, a Bills Committee was set up in Dec to study the Bill in detail. I joined the Bills Committee and was elected Chairman of it.
3. Elected Chairman of Subcommittee on Construction Workers Registration (Exemption) Regulation and Construction Workers Registration Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules 1 and 1A) Notice 2016
The Subcommittee was set up in Dec to study the proposed enactment of the Exemption Regulation and the proposed addition of three new trade divisions under the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance. I was elected Chairman of the Subcommittee. Members have completed scrutiny of the Regulation and Ordinance at its meeting held on 22 Dec 2016. To enable the Subcommittee to report its deliberations to the House Committee before the deadline for giving notice to amend the Exemption Regulation and the Amendment Notice, as the Chairman, I will move a motion at the Council meeting of 11 Jan 2017 to extend the scrutiny period to 8 Feb 2017. I will report the deliberations of the Subcommittee to the House Committee on 20 Jan 2017.
4. Development of the Hong Kong Palace Museum
On 23 December 2016, the Government announced that West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) would collaborate with the Palace Museum to develop the Hong Kong Palace Museum in WKCD, with a view to showcasing the exquisite collections of the Palace Museum on a long-term basis. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has agreed to donate $3.5 billion to fund the capital cost of the project, covering design, construction and exhibition development cost.
5. Memorandum of Understanding on Jointly Developing the Lok Ma Chau Loop
Hong Kong and Shenzhen signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Jointly Developing the Lok Ma Chau Loop on 3 Jan 2017, with an aim to develop the Hong Kong/Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park at the 87-hectare Loop. The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation will set up a subsidiary company responsible for building the superstructure and operating the park. The project will create about 40,000 job positions. I support the development and this will attract top enterprises, research institutions and higher education institutes of Hong Kong and the mainland, as well as overseas, for co-operation in innovation and technology research.
6. Bills Committee on Private Columbaria Bill
The Bill seeks to provide for the licensing of private columbaria for keeping ashes resulting from the cremation of human remains, including the establishment of the Private Columbaria Licensing Board; to impose obligations for the disposal of ashes; and to make other provisions to deal with related matters such as the enforcement provisions and the appeal mechanism. I have joined the Bills Committee in December.
7. Met the representatives from the Electric Vehicles industry
On 7 Dec, I met the representatives from the Electric Vehicles (EVs) industry to discuss on the extension of the present first registration tax waivers for e-cars, which is due to end in March 2017. The Government introduced the First Registration Tax waiver for EVs in 1994 to encourage the adoption of EVs in the city to help improve roadside air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The representatives expressed their hope to extend the policy, to continue the city’s path to be a beacon for e-vehicles.
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