A 00/01-18(1)

Legislative Council

Agenda

Wednesday 14 February 2001 at 2:30 pm

I. Tabling of Papers

Subsidiary Legislation / InstrumentsL.N. No.
1. Prevention of Copyright Piracy (Notices) Regulation39/2001
2. Commodities Trading (Trading Limits and Position Limits) (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 200140/2001

Other Papers

1. No.61 - Li Po Chun Charitable Trust Fund Annual Report for the period 1 September 1999 to 31 August 2000

(to be presented by Secretary for Home Affairs)

2. No.62 - Report by the Commissioner of Correctional Services of Hong Kong Incorporated on the Administration of the Correctional Services Department Welfare Fund for the year ended 31 March 2000

(to be presented by Secretary for Security)

3. No.63 - Audited Statement of Accounts together with the Director of Audit's Report and Trustee's Report on the Administration of the Education Scholarships Fund for the year ended 31 August 2000

(to be presented by Secretary for Education and Manpower)

4. No.64 - Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Reports of the Director of Audit on the Accounts of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the year ended 31 March 2000 and the Results of Value for Money Audits (Report No. 35) (February 2001 - P.A.C. Report No. 35)

(to be presented by Hon Eric LI, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, who will address the Council)

II. Questions

1. Hon James TIEN to ask: (Translation)

Regarding the plan to require motorists to switch off the engines of their vehicles while waiting, will the Government inform this Council of:

    (a) the latest progress of the study on the plan; and
    (b) the details of the various control options which are under consideration?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for the Environment and Food

2. Hon SIN Chung-kai to ask: (Translation)

According to the Hong Kong Productivity Council Ordinance, the main function of the public-funded Hong Kong Productivity Council ("HKPC") is "to promote the increased productivity of industry in Hong Kong". In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (a) of the number of contracts obtained by HKPC since 1998 for the provision of information technology services to the Government and public-funded organizations and, in respect of each of these contracts, of the government department or organization, detailed type of service and value of contract involved;
    (b) of the monitoring measures in place to ensure that HKPC actually performs its prescribed functions and does not compete with private organizations for profit; and
    (c) whether there are plans to change the funding arrangements for HKPC to make it operate on a self-financing basis?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Commerce and Industry

3. Hon CHAN Yuen-han to ask: (Translation)

Since 1 September last year, the Customs and Excise Department ("C&E") and the Police have set up a joint Police/Customs Control Post at the entrance to Chung Ying Street in the Closed Area of Sha Tau Kok, and the Police have tightened the control of access to and from Chung Ying Street. These measures have aroused strong discontent among local residents. Regarding the policy on the access control and development plans of Chung Ying Street, will the Government inform this Council:

    (a) of the average number of permits issued per day in the three years prior to the reunification in respect of each type of Closed Area Permits;
    (b) of the reasons for implementing the new policy by C&E and the Police after the reunification and the details of the implementation; whether local business operators and residents had been consulted beforehand; if so, of the outcome of consultation; if not, the reasons for that; and
    (c) whether it has drawn up development plans for Chung Ying Street; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Security

4. Hon YEUNG Yiu-chung to ask: (Translation)

I have received a complaint in which a veteran Senior Graduate Master ("SGM") who has changed his job from a Direct Subsidy Scheme secondary school to take up a Graduate Master ("GM") post in an aided secondary school is paid a salary equivalent to the starting pay of a newly-inducted GM plus incremental credit for his recognized experience. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (a) given that the starting salary of newly-inducted GMs has been lowered from point 17 to point 12 of the Master Pay Scale ("MPS") following the Civil Service Starting Salary Review 1999, of the reasons for taking the starting salary of a newly-inducted teacher as the base for calculating the salary of a serving SGM appointed as a GM of a lower rank in another school;
    (b) whether it has assessed if the above practice contravenes the Education Department's stated policy of "encouraging teachers to seek teaching post in another school"; if the assessment result is in the negative, of the justifications for that; and
    (c) whether it will consider amending the existing stipulation; if not, of the reasons for that?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Education and Manpower

5. Hon LAU Ping-cheung to ask: (Translation)

Regarding the performance of public works consultants and their consultancy fees, will the Government inform this Council:

    (a) of the details of consultancy contracts for infrastructure and superstructure projects awarded in the past three years, including the respective percentages of consultancy fees to the total expenditure on these two types of projects, the number of consultants which obtained contracts at the lowest tender price, the number of such consultants which subsequently claimed additional consultancy fees, the number of such claims which were lodged as a result of variation of works requirements by the Government, the number of successful claims put in for other reasons, and the ratio of the additional amounts successfully claimed to the original amounts of consultancy fees in each case;
    (b) in terms of quality of work and completion time, how the performance of consultants which obtained their consultancy contracts at the lowest tender price compares to that of other consultants awarded such contracts at other tender prices; and
    (c) whether a mechanism has been set up to ensure that consultants awarded the contracts will commit sufficient resources for the smooth completion of their contract?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Works

6. Hon CHOY So-yuk to ask: (Translation)

It was learnt that the Government had entered into contracts with a private company whereby the latter was commissioned to manage one landfill, two refuse transfer stations and the only chemical waste treatment plant in Hong Kong. On 31 August last year, the parent company of the private company announced the assignment of its waste services operations in Hong Kong to another company. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (a) whether it knows the details of the transaction; if it does, whether it has examined if the company taking over the operations is capable of fulfilling the management contracts signed between the original company and the Government; if it has, of the results of its examination; if it does not know the details, of the reasons for that, and how the matter will be followed up;
    (b) of the number of cases of business assignment in the past five years involving the provision to the Government of environmental hygiene management services, as well as the respective years in which the cases took place and the nature of the management contracts involved in each of such cases, and how it dealt with the management contracts involved; and
    (c) whether it has formulated any policies in relation to such matters, including specifying the circumstances under which the relevant management services will be re-tendered?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for the Environment and Food

*7. Hon LEE Cheuk-yan to ask: (Translation)

Regarding the reduction of sulphur dioxide emissions from power stations, will the Government inform this Council:

    (a) of the amount of sulphur dioxide emitted from power stations in each of the past three years and how such amounts of emission compare to those from vehicles;
    (b) whether it knows if the two power companies have taken measures to reduce the emission of sulphur dioxide; if so, of the details and effectiveness of such measures; and
    (c) whether it knows if the two power companies have introduced the latest technology from foreign countries for reducing the emission of sulphur dioxide; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for the Environment and Food

*8. Dr Hon LO Wing-lok to ask: (Translation)

It has been reported that a commercial organization successfully applied on behalf of a group of Chinese medicine practitioners ("CMPs") from the Mainland for entry to Hong Kong to conduct clinical researches at a local university. However, upon the arrival of these CMPs, the organization arranged for them to practise full-time on a fee-charging basis. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:

    (a) the criteria adopted by the Administration in issuing employment visas to CMPs outside Hong Kong for conducting clinical researches in local tertiary institutions; the qualifications required of these CMPs, their permitted scope of activities; and whether such criteria are the same as those adopted in processing similar applications from other organization; if not, of the details of the differences;
    (b) the total number of such employment visas granted in the past two years and whether a quota is set on the number of applications for such visas that can be made by each tertiary institution; if it has, of the details; and
    (c) the respective mechanisms and measures now in place and to be adopted upon the full implementation of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549) to regulate the practice of these CMPs in Hong Kong and monitor their professional standard and conduct?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Security

*9. Hon WONG Yung-kan to ask: (Translation)

Regarding the Home Purchase Loan Scheme of the Hong Kong Housing Authority, will the Government inform this Council:

    (a) of the channels through which people who plan to apply by means of green forms for a loan under the Scheme in a certain year are informed of the loan quota allocated for green form applicants in that year; and
    (b) whether a green-form loan applicant not issued with an approval-in-principle letter in the year in which he is placed on the waiting list will have his name automatically included in the loan application list of the following year?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Housing

*10. Dr Hon TANG Siu-tong to ask: (Translation)

Regarding the demolition works for the Tsuen Wan Seven Streets redevelopment project currently undertaken by the Land Development Corporation ("LDC"), will the Government inform this Council:

    (a) whether the LDC has submitted an asbestos investigation report and an asbestos abatement plan in accordance with the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 311); if so, of the results of the investigation, including the structural members of the buildings concerned which are found to be containing asbestos and the number of such structural members; and
    (b) if the buildings are proven to contain asbestos-based materials, of the safety measures required to be taken by the appointed registered asbestos contractor to prevent the demolition works from posing any health hazard to on-site workers and residents nearby, and whether the Government has conducted site inspections before the commencement of the demolition works to assess if the necessary safety measures had been adopted on the sites; if so, of the results; if not, the reasons for that?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for the Environment and Food

*11. Hon TAM Yiu-chung to ask: (Translation)

Regarding the impact of building demolition works on the environment, will the Government inform this Council:

    (a) whether it knows if the contractor responsible for demolition of the buildings in the "Tsuen Wan Seven Streets"
    (i) has conducted regular air quality tests inside and outside the site to monitor the level of asbestos dust in the air; if such tests have been conducted, of the results; if not, the reasons for that; and
    (ii) has put in place any measures to alleviate the nuisances caused to the neighbouring residents by dust, noise and effluent etc. arising from the demolition works; and
    (b) whether it plans to require contractors of major demolition works to be carried out in future, such as the forthcoming demolition of Wah Kai Industrial Centre, to put in place measures to alleviate the nuisances caused to the neighbourhood; if so, of the details, if not, the reasons for that?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for the Environment and Food

*12. Hon Cyd HO to ask: (Translation)

The Administration has set up a Steering Committee on Parent Education and provided it with $50 million for enhancing parent education. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (a) of the terms of reference and the membership list of the Committee, as well as the rationale for the appointments of the individual members;
    (b) how long the above amount of funding is expected to last; whether it has set any time limit on the exhaustion of the amount; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
    (c) whether it plans to turn the Committee into a standing committee and provide it with recurrent funding; if it has, of the long-term work plan of the Committee; if not, how it will ensure that those parents in need can have the necessary support after the funding has exhausted?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Education and Manpower

*13. Hon Albert CHAN to ask: (Translation)

The Administration has planned for many years to relocate the existing Castle Peak Wholesale Marine Fish Market, which is situated close to residential premises in Area 27 of Tuen Mun, to the quieter Area 44. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (a) of the progress of the relocation plan;
    (b) of the causes for the delay in implementing the relocation plan; and
    (c) when it will decide on the date for relocating the market?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for the Environment and Food

*14. Ir Dr Hon HO Chung-tai to ask: (Translation)

With regard to Tung Chung Road and other roads which cannot meet the current traffic safety standards, will the Government inform this Council of:

    (a) the number of traffic accidents on Tung Chung Road and the total casualties caused in such accidents over the past three years;
    (b) the number of complaints concerning traffic safety on Tung Chung Road received in the past three years, and how it dealt with such complaints; and
    (c) the other roads not up to the traffic safety standards at present, and its plans to upgrade the safety level of these roads?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Transport

*15. Hon Howard YOUNG to ask: (Translation)

The local fixed wireline-based telecommunication network services market was opened up in June 1995 and licences were issued to three new operators. Recently, the head of one of the new operators commented that the dominant operator, Pacific Century Cyberworks, was allowed to adopt anti-competitive practices, such as refusing to supply adequate Type I interconnection lines, to impede the provision of services by the new operators. As a result, the current aggregate market share of these new operators is only 5%. In this regard, will the Government inform this Council:

    (a) whether, when opening up the market, it had estimated the market share to be gained by the new operators; if so, how the total market share estimated to be gained by the new operators 5.5 years after they had entered the market compares to the actual situation at present; if there is significant discrepancy, of the reasons for that and the follow-up actions to be taken; if no such estimation has been made, the reasons for that;
    (b) whether it has assessed if the arrangement for network operators to negotiate on a commercial basis among themselves for interconnection agreements is one of the reasons for the slow development of the new operators' businesses; if it is, of the measures to tackle the problem; if the assessment result is in the negative, the justifications for that;
    (c) whether it has assessed if unfair competition exists in the market; and
    (d) of the specific measures to break the domination of the market by one network operator?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting

*16. Hon LEUNG Yiu-chung to ask: (Translation)

The eligibility requirements set for higher and normal old age allowances stipulate that applicants must have resided in Hong Kong for at least five years during which the period of absence from the territory should not exceed 280 days (i.e. an average of 56 days each year), while persons who are receiving such allowances may leave Hong Kong for up to 180 days a year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (a) of the reasons for setting, and how it arrived at, the permitted periods of absence;
    (b) of the reasons for the discrepancy between the above two permitted periods of absence;
    (c) whether it has reviewed the permitted periods; if so, of the results of the review; and
    (d) whether it has plans to relax or abolish the permitted periods; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Health and Welfare

*17. Hon CHEUNG Man-kwong to ask: (Translation)

Given the recent case in which a parent refused to let his daughter receive school education and would educate her at home instead, will the Government inform this Council:

    (a) whether there are policy, guidelines or standards allowing parents to not send their children to schools but to educate them at home instead; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
    (b) of the number of cases handled in the past five years involving parents choosing to let their children stay home to receive education and, in these cases, of the attitude of these parents, the learning of the children, the handling procedure of the Education Department, and the counselling and support actions provided for these families; and
    (c) whether it will review the policy on whether children should be allowed to receive education at home; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Education and Manpower

*18. Hon Mrs Sophie LEUNG to ask: (Translation)

It has been reported that there is an increasing trend of credit card holders being unable to make credit card repayments after spending or borrowing with multiple credit cards, and in one such case the cardholder owed debts involving 57 credit cards. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (a) whether it will consider amending the Code of Practice on Consumer Credit Data to allow credit reference agencies to collect more comprehensive personal credit information for the reference of credit card issuers in vetting credit card applications; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
    (b) of the means to raise the public's awareness of good financial management, such as reminding them to live within their means when using credit cards and promoting the use of direct debit cards, in order to reduce the incidence of failure to clear credit card debts?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Home Affairs

*19. Hon LAW Chi-kwong to ask: (Translation)

Regarding the six-month trial scheme for electric light buses launched by the Administration in June last year, I have learnt that the company providing these electric light buses has encountered considerable difficulties in setting up power charging facilities for electric light buses, which include the long time required for various government departments to vet the relevant applications, and the potential sites being often found to be unsuitable for setting up power charging facilities due to the presence of other underground facilities which are found only after the road surface has been dug open. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:

    (a) of the current procedure and time required for vetting applications for setting up power charging facilities for electric light buses;
    (b) of its plans to shorten the time required for vetting these applications; and
    (c) whether it will help the relevant company overcome the technical difficulties encountered in setting up power charging facilities for electric light buses; if so, of the details?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for the Environment and Food

*20. Hon Fred LI to ask: (Translation)

The Hing Tin Estate in Lam Tin will soon be put up for sale under the Tenants Purchase Scheme ("TPS"). However, the power supply installations in the units of its buildings are inadequate to meet the power demand when high power consumption appliances, such as air-conditioners and water heaters, are used. Furthermore, the distribution boards in the units are not installed with high-ampere circuit breakers. Consequently, overloading of electricity demand often results in black-outs in the housing units. In this regard, will the Government inform this Council:

    (a) of the public housing estates with the above problems in their power supply installations; of the number of buildings involved, and the year of completion for and the number of units in each building; and among them, the estates which have been included in TPS; and
    (b) whether it will solve the above problems in those estates before putting up their units for sale; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Public Officer to reply : Secretary for Housing

*For written reply.

III. Bills

First Reading

1. Fire Safety (Buildings) Bill
2. Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill 2001

Second Reading (Debates to be adjourned)

1. Fire Safety (Buildings) Bill : Secretary for Security
2. Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill 2001 : Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting

IV. Members' Motions

1. Proposed resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance
Hon CHAN Kam-lam to move the following motion:

RESOLVED that in relation to the -

    (a) Clubs (Safety of Premises) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulation 2001, published as Legal Notice No. 13 of 2001;
    (b) Builders' Lifts and Tower Working Platforms (Safety) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulation 2001, published as Legal Notice No. 14 of 2001;
    (c) Fire Service (Installation Contractors) (Amendment) Regulation 2001, published as Legal Notice No. 15 of 2001; and
    (d) Timber Stores (Amendment) Regulation 2001, published as Legal Notice No. 16 of 2001,
    and laid on the table of the Legislative Council on 17 January 2001, the period referred to in section 34(2) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance (Cap.1) for amending subsidiary legislation be extended under section 34(4) of that Ordinance to the meeting of 21 February 2001.

2. Proposed resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance
Hon LAU Chin-shek / Hon James TIEN to move the following motion:

RESOLVED that the Dairies (Amendment) Regulation 2001, published as Legal Notice No. 1 of 2001 and laid on the table of the Legislative Council on 10 January 2001, be repealed.

Public Officer to attend : Secretary for the Treasury

3. Proposed resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance
Hon LAU Chin-shek / Hon James TIEN to move the following motion:

RESOLVED that the Plant (Importation and Pest Control) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulation 2001, published as Legal Notice No. 2 of 2001 and laid on the table of the Legislative Council on 10 January 2001, be repealed.

Public Officer to attend : Secretary for the Treasury

4. Proposed resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance
Hon LAU Chin-shek / Hon James TIEN to move the following motion:

RESOLVED that the Pounds Fees (Amendment) Regulation 2001, published as Legal Notice No. 3 of 2001 and laid on the table of the Legislative Council on 10 January 2001, be repealed.

Public Officer to attend : Secretary for the Treasury

5. Proposed resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance
Hon LAU Chin-shek / Hon James TIEN to move the following motion:

RESOLVED that the Veterinary Surgeons Registration (Fees) (Amendment) Regulation 2001, published as Legal Notice No. 4 of 2001 and laid on the table of the Legislative Council on 10 January 2001, be repealed.

Public Officer to attend : Secretary for the Treasury

6. Proposed resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance
Hon LAU Chin-shek / Hon James TIEN to move the following motion:

RESOLVED that the Rabies Regulation (Amendment of Schedule 1) Notice 2001, published as Legal Notice No. 6 of 2001 and laid on the table of the Legislative Council on 10 January 2001, be amended by repealing section 2(a)(iii) and (iv) and (b)(v), (vi), (vii) and (viii).

Public Officer to attend : Secretary for the Treasury

7. Proposed resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance
Hon CHAN Kam-lam / Hon SIN Chung-kai / Hon LAU Chin-shek / Hon James TIEN to move the following motion:

RESOLVED that the Estate Agents (Registration of Determination and Appeal) (Amendment) Regulation 2001, published as Legal Notice No. 7 of 2001 and laid on the table of the Legislative Council on 10 January 2001, be repealed.

Public Officer to attend : Secretary for the Treasury

8. Protecting the interests of small depositors of banks
Hon LAU Chin-shek: (Translation)

That this Council is concerned about the substantial increase in charges by some banks on their small depositors, and its impact on the elderly and the disadvantaged groups in the community; to enhance the transparency of the charging policies of banks and protect the interests of depositors, this Council urges the Government to give statutory effect to the Code of Banking Practice, expressly stipulate the penalties for non-compliance, and examine at the same time whether bank charges should be regulated through legislative means.

Amendments to Hon LAU Chin-shek's motion

    (i) Hon CHAN Kam-lam: (Translation)

    To add "and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority" after "this Council urges the Government"; to delete "give statutory effect to" and substitute with "review the relevant provisions in"; to delete "expressly stipulate the penalties for non-compliance" and substitute with "so as to enhance the transparency of fee revisions by banks"; and to delete "whether bank charges should be regulated through legislative means" and substitute with "the empowerment of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to protect consumers of banking services".

    (ii) Hon Albert HO: (Translation)

    To delete "examine at the same time whether bank charges should be regulated through legislative means" and substitute with "include provisions to prohibit banks from forming a cartel and engaging in other acts which violate the principle of fair competition, and to require banks, in formulating their charging policies on small depositors, to exempt the accounts of recipients of welfare benefits as well as those depositors who receive their salaries through banks from paying charges".

Public Officer to attend : Secretary for Financial Services

9. Proposals for the next Budget
Dr Hon YEUNG Sum: (Translation)

That, as the general public has not yet been able to benefit from the recovery of the economy, this Council urges that, in drawing up the Budget for the next fiscal year, the Government should, having regard to its huge fiscal reserves and the growth in the economy, correspondingly increase government spending and study the feasibility of the following taxation measures, in order to relieve the tax burden on the lower and middle classes and give an impetus to environmental protection:

    (a) increasing the amount of home loan interest deduction;
    (b) introducing a mechanism for salaries tax allowances to be adjusted annually in line with the rate of inflation and to remain unchanged in times of deflation;
    (c) abolishing the standard rate of salaries tax and setting the maximum marginal rate of salaries tax at a level similar to the rate of profits tax;
    (d) introducing a progressive profits tax system with two tax bands; and
    (e) promoting green tax reform, on the basis of the tax shifting principles as far as possible, and with the aim of not increasing Government's overall revenue, changing the modes of production of enterprises and the public's spending habits through financial incentives.

    Amendments to Dr Hon YEUNG Sum's motion

    (i) Hon CHAN Yuen-han: (Translation)

    To add "as well as small and medium enterprises," after "on the lower and middle classes"; to add "and extending to 10 years the period for which the deduction can be granted" after "increasing the amount of home loan interest deduction"; to delete "(c) abolishing the standard rate of salaries tax and setting the maximum marginal rate of salaries tax at a level similar to the rate of profits tax;"; to delete "(d)" and substitute with "(c)"; to delete "(e)" and substitute with "(d)"; to delete "tax reform, on the basis of the tax shifting principle as far as possible, and with the aim of not increasing Government's overall revenue," and substitute with "industries and"; and to add ", so as to achieve objectives such as reducing the wastage of resources and protecting the environment; (e) providing tax deduction for contributions to private medical insurance schemes; (f) abolishing the upper limit on the deduction for expenses on self-education; (g) reducing the rates percentage charge from 5% to 3%; and (h) granting an additional deduction equivalent to 1.5 times of the expenses of small and medium enterprises on scientific research and training" after "the public's spending habits through financial incentives".

    (ii) Hon James TIEN: (Translation)

    To add ", improve the business environment" after "the lower and middle classes"; to delete "increasing" after "(a)" and substitute with "doubling"; to add "to $200,000" after "the amount of home loan interest deduction"; to delete "introducing a mechanism" and substitute with "maintaining the existing arrangements"; to delete "allowances to be adjusted annually in line with the rate of inflation and to remain unchanged in times of deflation; (c) abolishing the standard rate of salaries tax and setting the maximum marginal rate of salaries tax at a level similar to the rate of profits tax; (d) introducing a progressive" and substitute with "and"; to delete "system with two tax bands" and substitute with "before the Government's Task Force to Review Public Finances comes up with its conclusions"; to delete "(e)" and substitute with "(c)"; to delete "promoting green tax reform, on the basis of the tax shifting principle as far as possible, and with the aim of not increasing Government's overall revenue, changing the modes of production of" and substitute with "encouraging"; and to delete "public's spending habits" and substitute with "public to promote environmental protection".

Public Officer to attend : Secretary for the Treasury

Clerk to the Legislative Council