I. Highlights
1. Report of the subcommittee to study the proposed legislative amendments relating to the establishment of a new Innovation and Technology Bureau
At the House Committee meeting on 23 May 2014, members agreed to form a subcommittee to study proposed legislative amendments relating to the establishment of the Innovation and Technology Bureau (ITB). As the chairman of the subcommittee, I delivered a report at the LegCo meeting on 22 Oct 2014. Members have held two meetings with the Administration to examine the proposed resolution, which is to transfer the relevant statutory functions under the Electronic Transactions Ordinance from the Secretary and Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development to the Secretary and Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology. The majority of members of the subcommittee supported in principle the proposed establishment of the ITB to sustain the development of innovation and technology of Hong Kong in the long run.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development moved the resolution at the LegCo meeting on 22 Oct. The resolution was passed and later the Government will seek approval of the LegCo Finance Committee on the related staffing and financial proposal of the new Innovation and Technology Bureau.
2. Completion of scrutiny of the Bill Committee on Construction Workers Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014
The Administration has proposed to resume the Second Reading debate on the Bill at the Council meeting of 17 December 2014. As the Chairman of the Bills Committee, I will report the deliberations of the Bills Committee to the House Committee on 5 December 2014. Four meetings were held to discuss registration by reference to trade division, senior workers registration arrangement, proposed exemption works, and administration of the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance.
3. Select Committee to look into the delay of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link
The legCo will set up a select committee to look into the delay of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL). The purview of select committee is “to inquire into the background of and reasons for the incident of the delay of the construction of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (“the project delay”), as announced by the Government and MTR Corporation Limited (“the Corporation”) in April 2014, and related issues, including the performance and accountability of the Government and the Corporation relating to the project delay and whether they have deliberately covered up the project delay; and to make recommendations for the future on how the Government can enhance the supervision of the construction of new railway projects and strengthen the governance of the Corporation in delivering railway projects and on related issues.” The select committee is the third body set up to investigate the project after an inquiry panel formed by the MTR and an independent inquiry set up by the Government.
4. Extension of three landfills and construction of an incinerator in Shek Kwu Chau
Funding requests related to extension of three landfills and building of an incinerator in Shek Kwu Chau were raised to the Finance Committee. It is expected that the approval process will be very long. I am concerned that the non-cooperation campaign of some councilors would further delay the funding requests, cause the costs to rise, and affect the overall plan for strategic management of municipal solid waste.
5. Construction of organic waste treatment facilities approved at LegCo finance committee
The LegCo finance committee approved a HK$1.58 billion grant for the Organic Waste Treatment Facilities (OWTF) Phase 1 in Siu Ho Wan on North Lantau after a long debate. The plant is expected to begin operating in 2017 and be able to treat 200 tons of food waste daily. Responding to lawmakers’ concerns on cost-effectiveness of turning food waste into energy, the Government said the biogas will be used to generate electricity and apart from the internal use of OWTF phase 1, they estimate that about 14 million kWh of surplus electricity, which is equivalent to the power consumption by some 3 000 households, can be exported each year.
6. Appointed board member of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
The Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority was established on 23 October 2008. The Board has charted the direction for various strategic issues crucial to the development of the West Kowloon Cultural District and the operation of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. It has also actively promoted engagement with the public and stakeholders. I am appointed a new board member and the appointment takes effect on 23 Oct 2014 and will last for two years until Oct 2016.
7. Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Bill 2014
The Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Bill 2014 was introduced to increase the penalties for offences relating to unlawful occupation of unleased Government land for the purpose of enhancing the deterrent effect against the relevant offences. The Bill was published in the Gazette on 4 July 2014. A bills committee was set up on 28 Oct and I joined the committee.
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