WK LO's LegCo Express
November 2015
(Receiving the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) at the Government House on 31 Oct 2015)
1. Submission to CE on 2016 Policy Address and Budget
In Nov, I submitted my written proposal to the Chief Executive for the 2016 Policy Address and Budget. Please visit the link below of the letter to CE (Chinese only):
http://www.irdrwklo.hk/eventsview.asp?ActivityID=45
My proposal covers key areas including development plan and infrastructure, industrial development, housing and land supply, and environmental protection, etc. I urged the Government to:
a. Development plan and infrastructure
Ø optimize long-term city planning with proper phasing of public capital works
Ø promote smart city
Ø establish a dedicated population policy implementation framework to facilitate the promotion of the population policies
Ø increase manpower of professional grades of the civil service
Ø improve the existing labor import mechanism
Ø implement Northeast New Territories Development with people livelihood oriented
Ø enhance overall planning for Lantau Island development and increase representation of the Lantau Development Advisory Committee
Ø speed up planning and building of the Kai Tak Sports Complex
Ø explore new mechanism to effectively implement infrastructure planning
b. Industrial development
Ø formulate balanced and visionary industry policy to promote multi-faceted economic development
Ø strengthen Hong Kong’s super connector role, expand regional economic cooperation
Ø promote innovation and technology development
Ø seek more lands to support innovation & technology development
Ø promote Hong Kong’s professional services and seek more cooperation opportunities in the Mainland
Ø develop Hong Kong into regional testing and certification centre
Ø develop Hong Kong as a regional e-commerce platform, encourage entrepreneurship
Ø develop “aviation city” to further promote tourism industry
Ø adopt flexible policy to promote cultural and creative industries
Ø diverse education system to meet manpower needs
Ø optimize government procurement process to assist local SMEs
c. Housing and land supply
Ø implement long-term land supply planning to suppress property speculation
Ø review and reform housing policy to meet needs of different sectors
Ø solve housing problem of young people to enhance their sense of belonging
d. Environmental protection and energy
Ø formulate and implement waste management policy for “waste reduction, recycling and proper disposal”
Ø promote regional cooperation on environmental protection, push the development of environmental industry
Ø implement “Regional Cooperation Plan on Building a Quality Living Area”
Ø establish “Centre for Industrialization and Development of Environmental Protection Technologies” to support the development of environmental protection industry
Ø formulate long-term energy policy and seek cleaner fuel mix
Ø promote energy efficiency and support local companies to install “green” facilities
Ø promote the use of bio-diesel
e. Transport and logistics
Ø expand HKIA into three-runway system to maintain its regional aviation hub status
Ø improve mass transit rail network
Ø improve the XRL project supervision and cost control to ensure smooth opening of Hong Kong section
Ø improve port facilities
Ø improve cross-border transport to meet growing demand
Ø support the development of logistics industry
f. Others
Ø rebuild rational communication and mutual trust with the community, focus on economic development to improve people's livelihood
Ø establish "City Safety Steering Committee" to maintain Hong Kong 's reputation as a safe city
Ø ensure safety of drinking water
Ø prevent and combat technology crime
2. Raised question on regulation of unmanned aircraft systems
I raised a question regarding the public safety of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) and asked if the Government will consider amending the relevant legislation to standardise the regulation of flying UASs on its operation, manufacture, import and sale, and drawing up the relevant codes of operation of UASs. The administration replied that there are still no standardised international requirements to regulate the manufacture, import, sale and operations of UASs. With the popularisation of small UASs, the Government will taking into account the development of regulatory requirements of overseas aviation authorities and the specific circumstances in Hong Kong, review in due course the regulatory policies on UASs and consider amending the relevant legislation, in order to ensure public safety.
Please view the question and Government reply via following link:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201510/14/P201510130731.htm
3. Bills Committee on Patents (Amendment) Bill 2015
This Bill will amend the Patents Ordinance to establish an "original grant" patent system, refine the existing short-term patent system and introduce an interim measure for regulating local patent practitioners. Public consultation has been conducted and the Advisory Committee on Review of the Patent System in Hong Kong has been set up to provide input to the Administration for formulating the legislative proposals. The Bill was published in the Gazette on 30 October 2015 and introduced into the Legislative Council on 11 November 2015. I joined the Bills Committee in December.
4. Completion of the deliberations on the Subcommittee on Building (Standards of Sanitary Fitments, Plumbing, Drainage Works and Latrines) (Amendment) Regulation 2015 and Building (Administration) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2015
The Subcommittee has completed the deliberations on the Regulations in November. The Subcommittee in general supports the Administration's initiative to enhance the standards for the provision of sanitary fitments, in particular those for the use of females, in public places. In the course of deliberation, the Subcommittee has examined the basis for determining the ratio for assessing the number of males to that of females in regulated buildings, and expressed views and concerns on the impact of the amendments under the two Amendment Regulations on certain regulated buildings, etc.
5. 2015 Mainland and Hong Kong Construction Industry Forum in Yinchuan
I delivered a speech on “Belt and Road” at the 2015 Mainland and Hong Kong Construction Industry Forum, which was held in November in Yinchuan. The theme of the forum is "Belt and Road; Collaboration for Success". Co-organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Municipal People's Government and the Development Bureau of the HKSAR Government, the forum aims to promote knowledge sharing in construction expertise and management between the industries of the Mainland and Hong Kong. It also seeks to foster ties and co-operation between the construction enterprises of the two places. The delegation comprises more than 160 members, including LegCo members, representatives from the Government and the industries.