OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 22 January 2003 ...

[Pages:218]LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 22 January 2003

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OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 22 January 2003

The Council met at half-past Two o'clock

MEMBERS PRESENT:

THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE MRS RITA FAN HSU LAI-TAI, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE KENNETH TING WOO-SHOU, J.P. THE HONOURABLE JAMES TIEN PEI-CHUN, G.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE DAVID CHU YU-LIN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CYD HO SAU-LAN THE HONOURABLE ALBERT HO CHUN-YAN IR DR THE HONOURABLE RAYMOND HO CHUNG-TAI, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEE CHEUK-YAN THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LEE CHU-MING, S.C., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ERIC LI KA-CHEUNG, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE DAVID LI KWOK-PO, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE FRED LI WAH-MING, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LUI MING-WAH, J.P. THE HONOURABLE NG LEUNG-SING, J.P.

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 22 January 2003

THE HONOURABLE MARGARET NG

THE HONOURABLE MRS SELINA CHOW LIANG SHUK-YEE, G.B.S., J.P.

THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN

THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG MAN-KWONG

THE HONOURABLE HUI CHEUNG-CHING, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE CHAN KWOK-KEUNG

THE HONOURABLE CHAN YUEN-HAN, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE BERNARD CHAN, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE CHAN KAM-LAM, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE MRS SOPHIE LEUNG LAU YAU-FUN, S.B.S., J.P.

THE HONOURABLE LEUNG YIU-CHUNG

THE HONOURABLE SIN CHUNG-KAI

THE HONOURABLE ANDREW WONG WANG-FAT, J.P.

DR THE HONOURABLE PHILIP WONG YU-HONG

THE HONOURABLE JASPER TSANG YOK-SING, G.B.S., J.P.

THE HONOURABLE HOWARD YOUNG, J.P.

DR THE HONOURABLE YEUNG SUM

THE HONOURABLE YEUNG YIU-CHUNG, B.B.S.

THE HONOURABLE LAU CHIN-SHEK, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE LAU KONG-WAH

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 22 January 2003 THE HONOURABLE LAU WONG-FAT, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MIRIAM LAU KIN-YEE, J.P. THE HONOURABLE AMBROSE LAU HON-CHUEN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE EMILY LAU WAI-HING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHOY SO-YUK THE HONOURABLE ANDREW CHENG KAR-FOO THE HONOURABLE SZETO WAH DR THE HONOURABLE LAW CHI-KWONG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE TAM YIU-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE TANG SIU-TONG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE ABRAHAM SHEK LAI-HIM, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LI FUNG-YING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE HENRY WU KING-CHEONG, B.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL MAK KWOK-FUNG THE HONOURABLE ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP THE HONOURABLE LEUNG FU-WAH, M.H., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LO WING-LOK THE HONOURABLE WONG SING-CHI THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 22 January 2003

THE HONOURABLE IP KWOK-HIM, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE LAU PING-CHEUNG

THE HONOURABLE AUDREY EU YUET-MEE, S.C., J.P.

THE HONOURABLE MA FUNG-KWOK, J.P.

MEMBERS ABSENT:

THE HONOURABLE WONG YUNG-KAN THE HONOURABLE TIMOTHY FOK TSUN-TING, S.B.S., J.P.

PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING:

THE HONOURABLE DONALD TSANG YAM-KUEN, G.B.M., J.P. THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION

THE HONOURABLE ANTONY LEUNG KAM-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY

THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL SUEN MING-YEUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, PLANNING AND LANDS

PROF THE HONOURABLE ARTHUR LI KWOK-CHEUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER

DR THE HONOURABLE YEOH ENG-KIONG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, WELFARE AND FOOD

THE HONOURABLE MRS REGINA IP LAU SUK-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY

THE HONOURABLE STEPHEN IP SHU-KWAN, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LABOUR

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DR THE HONOURABLE SARAH LIAO SAU-TUNG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND WORKS

THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK MA SI-HANG SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY

CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE:

MR LAW KAM-SANG, J.P., DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL MR RAY CHAN YUM-MOU, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 22 January 2003

TABLING OF PAPERS

The following papers were laid on the table pursuant to Rule 21(2) of the Rules of Procedure:

Subsidiary Legislation/Instruments

L.N. No.

Insurance Companies Ordinance (Amendment of Part 1 of Third Schedule) Regulation 2003...................

2/2003

Insurance Companies Ordinance (Amendment of Part 8 of Third Schedule) Regulation 2003...................

3/2003

Telecommunications (Telecommunications Apparatus) (Exemption from Licensing) Order ................

4/2003

Barristers (Admission) Rules.................................

5/2003

Legal Practitioners (Fees) (Amendment) Rules 2002 ....

6/2003

Practising Certificate (Barristers) (Amendment) Rules 2002 .............................................

7/2003

Barristers (Advanced Legal Education Requirement) Rules ....................................................

8/2003

Barristers (Qualification for Admission and Pupillage) Rules ....................................................

9/2003

Import and Export (General) Regulations (Amendment of Seventh Schedule) Notice 2003 ............................................

10/2003

Securities and Futures (Insurance) Rules...................

11/2003

Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) (Commencement) Notice 2003......................

12/2003

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Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) (Appointment

of Day Repeal of Ordinances) Notice ........

13/2003

Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) (Appointed Day Unified Exchange Compensation Fund)

Notice ...................................................

14/2003

Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) (Appointed Day Futures Exchange Compensation Fund)

Notice ...................................................

15/2003

Banking (Amendment) Ordinance 2002 (6 of 2002) (Commencement) Notice 2003......................

16/2003

Solicitors (Group Practice) Rules (L.N. 122 of 2002) (Commencement) Notice 2003......................

17/2003

Other Papers

No. 54 Employees Compensation Assistance Fund Board Annual Report 2001/2002

No. 55 Equal Opportunities Commission Annual Report 2001/02

Report of the Bills Committee on Adaptation of Laws Bill 2001

First Report of the Legislative Council Select Committee on Building Problems of Public Housing Units

ADDRESS

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Address. Ms Miriam LAU will address the Council on the First Report of the Legislative Council Select Committee on Building Problems of Public Housing Units.

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 22 January 2003

First Report of the Legislative Council Select Committee on Building Problems of Public Housing Units

MS MIRIAM LAU (in Cantonese): Madam President, as the Chairman of the Legislative Council Select Committee on Building Problems of Public Housing Units (Select Committee), I am now presenting to the Legislative Council the First Report of the Select Committee.

On 7 February 2001, this Council passed a resolution to appoint a Select Committee, in response to public concerns on the spate of building problems in public housing projects unveiled in 1999 to 2000. These building problems included the uneven foundation settlement found at Tin Chung Court in Tin Shui Wai, short pilings found at Yuen Chau Kok in Sha Tin, as well as the use of non-conforming construction materials in the project items of Shek Yam and Tung Chung projects. To address the building problems in the production of public housing, the public urges the Select Committee to inquire into the building problems in the four incidents mentioned. They also hoped that by the independent investigation conducted by the Legislative Council, the Select Committee would examine the overall policies and system of public housing, so as to propose recommendations for improving the quality of public housing.

Since the appointment, the Select Committee, comprising 15 Members of this Council, has conducted 70 hearings and 115 meetings, and has listened to the evidence provided by 85 witnesses. To understand the production process of different coring, the Select Committee paid visit to two construction sites of public housing in March 2001.

During the investigation, the Select Committee noticed that a number of cases, as well as the four cases mentioned, were still pending in a court of law. The Select Committee, has thus taken a series of measures to avoid possible influence on court judgements. Such measures included the maintenance of close contact with the Department of Justice to take note of the development of the criminal proceedings concerned, and to conduct closed session whenever necessary to obtain evidence from witnesses. At the same time, in making its own practice and procedures, the Select Committee has had regard to the principles of fairness, openness and impartiality, so that the public's right to know would not be unduly undermined. The Select Committee has also provided to relevant witnesses and organizations the relevant parts of the draft report, so that each and every one of them is fairly and reasonably treated.

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