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The 2013 Policy Address maps out a blueprint covering various issues including economic development, housing and land supply, environmental protection, transportation, etc., showing the determination to face up to the fundamental problems of the society and to respond to the demands of the community. The CE said “it is imperative to pursue people’s livelihood and the economy in tandem”. The Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA) holds the same view. Housing and land supply is limelight focus in this Policy Address. I believe urban planning requires long-term vision. In the past decade, the Government has done too little to increase “land reserve”. Though reclamation, underground space and rock cavern development are intractable to handle, the Government ought to solve the predicament. The administration is yet to map out a long-term and sustainable infrastructure development plan to support the blueprint. I will continue to urge the Government in this endeavor and monitor the implementation of various policies and measures.

2. Raised oral question regarding shortage of construction workers

I moved an amendment to the motion “Safeguarding the Rule of Law and Judicial Independence” and urged the Government, in accordance with the principle of “one country, two systems”, and the provisions of the Basic Law, to uphold the rule of law, the legal system and the judicial independence in Hong Kong. I pointed out in my speech that article 158 of the Basic Law has clarified the power of the Court of Final Appeal (CFA) and the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) in legislative interpretation. Therefore, it is the part of the legal system for the CFA to seek the interpretation from the NPCSC. To maintain the independence of local rule of law and judiciary, related institutions of both Hong Kong and the Mainland have to bear their respective responsibilities. 

At a meeting of the Information Technology and Broadcasting Panel, members discussed findings of the second round of public consultation on the review of Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance. I urged the Government to expeditiously solve the problem on the definitions of “obscenity” and “indecency”. The authority has the responsibility to let the public understand the definition clearly, so as to provide law basis for future investigation and penalty.

The Secretary for Transport and Housing briefed members on relevant policy initiatives of housing in the CE’s 2013 Policy Address on 18 January. I was concerned if the Government could increase the supply of PRH flats per year in two or three years’ time. Due to the construction level, the workload of professional grades of civil service is increased as well. I expressed that the Government ought to seek additional manpower resources to support the plan to increase PRH construction. The Secretary replied that the Government would take all necessary measures to produce more PRH and would try the best to adjust the production level. Regarding manpower management, the Housing Department has recruited over 350 posts in all levels and will continue to seek the needed additional resources. 

Regarding the measures to complement the implementation of the Lifts and Escalators Ordinance, I raised a question to the Government and asked whether the authority will establish a communication mechanism with the relevant professional bodies to encourage practitioners to pursue continuous training. I also asked if the Government has conducted any studies on the business difficulties faced by the trade and provided the industry with appropriate support. The administration responded that a task force has been set up to discuss the bill-related issues including driving practitioners' continuous training and to keep abreast of the operating conditions. The Ordinance will facilitate the long-term and sustainable healthy development of the industry. 

To implement Chief Executive’s blueprint of housing and land development mentioned in his policy address, the Government should continue to invest in infrastructure to ensure a healthy and balanced development. Currently, about 56% of the public works’ expenditure is devoted to the Ten Major Infrastructure Projects. I asked the Government when the administration team could come up with a long-term planning for infrastructure development. Permanent Secretary for Development agreed that the sector should get a better understanding on the long-term planning. As the Government is carrying out a review of the existing procurement system for public works projects, I urged the Government to consider reviewing the tendering system so that both small and large companies can have healthy and steady business growth. 

The item of “promotion of inward investment” was discussed at a meeting of the Commerce and Industry Panel in January. I noticed the results of InvestHK’s work in recent year such as report of jobs created within the first year of operation of the foreign companies set up in Hong Kong. I suggested InvestHK to keep track of the figures of job creation in subsequent years instead of only the first year and provide such information in future. 

The work of the Expert Group on Technology Development, co-chaired by the Hon Elizabeth Quat and me, was kicked off in December. Members of the Group held a brainstorming meeting to discuss specific policies and actions to promote short, medium and long term technology development of Hong Kong. It was consensus of the meeting that the Government should set the goals and strategies for the next five to ten years to enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness. The public investment in R&D should increase and the Government should also take solid actions and introduce incentive plans to encourage R&D in the private sector. A proposal was submitted to the Chief Executive accordingly for the 2013 Policy Address.

The Hong Kong Green Strategy Alliance (HKGSA), chaired by me, has also submitted a proposal to the Chief Executive regarding the prominent environmental issues for the 2013 Policy Address. The HKGSA is a non-profit making organization founded in 2012 by a group of professionals and stakeholders who are visionary and wish to undertake the responsibility on the issues of environmental protection and sustainable development.

At the House Committee meeting on 7 Dec, proposed resolution for authorizing members to exercise Powers and Privileges Ordinance to appoint a select committee for inquiring into the unauthorized building works at the Chief Executive's properties and related issues was negatived. I stressed that in discharging their duties, professional staff in the civil service, such as engineers and surveyors, need to comply not only with the relevant regulations and guidelines promulgated by the authorities concerned, but also their professional ethics. In my view, making allegations against the professional staff for harboring the CE merely on the basis of media reports without substantiated evidence was an affront to them. I did not support the proposed invocation of the powers under the P&P ordinance to inquire into the matter.

11. Discussion on fare increase application from the Kowloon Motor Bus Company

The fare increase application of 8.5% from the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (KMB) was discussed at the Transport Panel. In assessing franchised bus fare adjustment applications, the Administration would take into account a basket of factors. A formula including factor of productivity gain was introduced in 2009 but the productivity factor was set at zero until the next review in three years' time. I wondered the productivity gain as an encouraging factor has been eliminated. The administration responded that taking into consideration the fuel cost and competition from the MTR at that time, setting the productivity gain as zero provided a safeguard because a negative number would create a greater pressure on fare increase. I proposed that the formula should be reviewed right away. 

Regarding the waste management in public housing estates, I asked the Government at a meeting of the Housing Panel if there be any waste furniture recycling or reuse programme collaborating with NGOs. I also asked would the technologies of sediment recycled bricks or green concrete be introduced in new PRH buildings. The Secretary for Transport and Housing responded that the waste furniture will be distributed to needy persons and the Housing Authority (HA) would continue to explore the opportunities of working with NGOs on such initiatives. For the reuse of waste construction materials, the HA has adopted a number of initiatives to promote green building construction in new estates.

In the motion debate of “Executive Council as gate-keeper for MTR fares” on 5 Dec, I stated that the FAM is reached by social consensus and its formula is calculated by publicly accessible data thus the FAM is a fairly objective and transparent mechanism. I agreed that the FAM should be reviewed so as to reflect the current situation of livelihood and social development.

On 20 Dec, a motion of “Reviving the Quality of Local Education and Stopping the Blind Industrialization of Education” was moved. In my view, we need a comprehensive and objective review on developing long-term education policy so as to move towards internationalization, to improve the institutions’ academic standards and quality, to nurture talents and to increase the competitiveness of Hong Kong.