October-November 2012

   

 

 Dear Fellow Engineers,

  

 

I am most grateful to have been elected as a Member of the Legislative Council for the Engineering Functional Constituency. After taking the Legislative Council Oath on 10th October, I have assumed my full LegCo duty. I have joined six panels and am elected as Deputy Chairman of the Public Works Subcommittee (PWSC). The six panels I joined are Housing, Development, Environmental Affairs, Transport, Commerce and Industry, and Information Technology and Broadcasting. I will try my very best to act as a bridge between the engineering industry, the LegCo and the HKSAR Government. I believe that we share the same ideal and belief, and can work together seamlessly. I will send my LegCo Working Report to you regularly by email. A new website will also be set up later. Should you have any views on the profession or on my work, you are welcome to send me e-mail at wklo@engineer.com.

2.    Forming the Alliance “BPA”
During the election campaign, the general view from our sector was that the LegCo representative of our constituency should better not to be of any political party. Many voters also opined that alliance with other councilors who share similar visions should be considered so as to more effectively exercise the influence of the Engineering Functional Constituency. After careful consideration, I have formed with other six LegCo members the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA). Our motto is "Business stimulates economy, Professionals improve livelihood.” The Alliance will seek consensus on various issues, but not to be bundled of votes.

3.    Debate on Development of North East New Territories
New LegCo year just kicked off and many controversial social issues have been put on discussion, such as the motion moved on 24 October, which urged the government to withdraw the proposal of “North East New Territories New Development Areas Planning and Engineering Study”. Considering the overall interests of the engineering sector and the long-term development of Hong Kong, I opposed the motion. In my speech, I pointed out the government should be livelihood-oriented, focus on increasing local housing supply and job creation, and seek a broad social consensus to develop North East New Territories. I reiterated my position in my article published in the newspaper later on.

4.    Chief Executive's Question and Answer
On 1 November, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying addressed to the LegCo in his first “Chief Executive's Question and Answer Session”. Luckily, I got the opportunity to ask the first question. I pointed out the most concerned issue of the engineering sector which is the predicament of fluctuating jobs. I asked whether our infrastructure development could have a long-term and sustainable planning. As CE promised in his election manifesto that he would explore the feasibility of setting up a new executive mechanism to coordinate and expedite the development of new towns and land planning, I asked if there be any substantial progress in this regard, and whether the long-term infrastructure planning is included in his policy agenda. He said that the administration has started the preliminary work and been studying the needs of long-term land and construction projects. I went on to ask if the administration will review and optimize the existing consultation mechanism in view of the changing social political environment. He responded that the authority will conduct such review from time to time, and also maintain a regular contact with the engineering sector.

5.    Urged the Government to Review Manpower Arrangements on Professional Grades
The item of “further measures to address the overheated property market” was discussed at the LegCo panel meeting on 2 November. To help meet the public housing needs of the community, the civil service teams, particularly the engineers, are now under heavy workload. In this regard, I urged the government to review its manpower arrangements on professional grades. 

Secretary for Transport and Housing Bureau responded that the administration will adjust the allocation of resources accordingly. Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing said that the administration has sought additional resources including recruiting different levels of posts, seeking funding allocation from the LegCo as well as arranging over fifty promotion boards to ensure appropriate manpower arrangement. In addition to the civil service staffing, the government also recruited outsourcing and short-term staff to make sure the right balance within the departments.

6.    Technology Development
Immediately upon commencing the work in the Legislative Council, I and Dr Hon Elizabeth Quat have gathered more than 10 Legislative Councilors and 40 different technology-related organizations to co-sign a petition to the government to urge for the early establishing of the Technology and Communications Bureau.  We believe this Bureau is important for the long term and sustainable technology development for Hong Kong, and we shall continue to push for its establishment. 

We are in the process of forming an expert group on technology development, with an aim to propose to the government short, medium, and long term strategic plans for the technology development of Hong Kong.

7.    Environmental Affairs
At a meeting of the LegCo Panel on Environmental Affairs, I raised the question to the Secretary for the Environment whether the Administration would consider separation of the ENB and EPD for the best public interest and rationalized discharge of duties.  With such organization structure, the expertise of administrative officers in formulating environmental policies at bureau level could be better used, while professional officers in EPD would provide their strong technical and professional support to the bureau in providing independent scientific analysis and judgment for making sensible and practical environmental policies.  While no definite answer was received at that meeting, I will follow up on this issue.  

8.    Networking
I have met different groups of representatives from various engineering sectors: construction, E&M, transportation, housing, environment, etc.  Useful inputs and suggestions were received from these meetings.  While the modes of operations of these support groups are yet to define, such informal networking meetings will continue for the gathering of opinions from the industry.  

 

1. 對症下藥　完善房屋政策　

《星島日報》

 

 

《文匯報》

 

《星島日報》

 

 

Nov 20, 2012

 

 

  Ir Dr the Hon LO Wai Kwok, BBS, JP 盧偉國議員 博士 工程師, BBS, JP

Room 709, 7/F, Legislative Council Complex, 1 Legislative Council Road, Central, Hong Kong 

香港中區立法會道1號 立法會綜合大樓7樓709室

Tel 電話 : 2539 0610  | Fax 傳真 : 2539 0621 | Email 電郵 : wklo@engineer.com