LC Paper No. FC197/98-99
(These minutes have been
seen by the Administration)

Ref : CB1/F/1/2

Finance Committee of the Legislative Council

Minutes of the 17th meeting
held at the Legislative Council Chamber
on Friday, 7 May 1999, at 2:30 pm

Members present :

Hon Ronald ARCULLI, JP (Chairman)
Hon CHAN Kam-lam (Deputy Chairman)
Hon Kenneth TING Woo-shou, JP
Hon James TIEN Pei-chun, JP
Hon David CHU Yu-lin
Hon HO Sai-chu, JP
Hon Cyd HO Sau-lan
Hon Michael HO Mun-ka
Dr Hon Raymond HO Chung-tai, JP
Hon LEE Wing-tat
Hon LEE Cheuk-yan
Hon Martin LEE Chu-ming, SC, JP
Hon Eric LI Ka-cheung, JP
Hon LEE Kai-ming, JP
Hon Fred LI Wah-ming
Dr Hon LUI Ming-wah, JP
Hon NG Leung-sing
Prof Hon NG Ching-fai
Hon Margaret NG
Hon Mrs Selina CHOW LIANG Shuk-yee, JP
Hon MA Fung-kwok
Hon James TO Kun-sun
Hon CHEUNG Man-kwong
Hon Ambrose CHEUNG Wing-sum, JP
Hon HUI Cheung-ching
Hon CHAN Yuen-han
Hon Bernard CHAN
Hon CHAN Wing-chan
Dr Hon LEONG Che-hung, JP
Hon Mrs Sophie LEUNG LAU Yau-fun, JP
Hon LEUNG Yiu-chung
Hon Gary CHENG Kai-nam
Hon SIN Chung-kai
Hon Andrew WONG Wang-fat, JP
Dr Hon Philip WONG Yu-hong
Hon WONG Yung-kan
Hon Jasper TSANG Yok-sing, JP
Hon Howard YOUNG, JP
Dr Hon YEUNG Sum
Hon YEUNG Yiu-chung
Hon LAU Kong-wah
Hon LAU Wong-fat, GBS, JP
Hon Mrs Miriam LAU Kin-yee, JP
Hon Ambrose LAU Hon-chuen, JP
Hon Emily LAU Wai-hing, JP
Hon CHOY So-yuk
Hon Andrew CHENG Kar-foo
Hon SZETO Wah
Hon Timothy FOK Tsun-ting, JP
Hon LAW Chi-kwong, JP
Hon TAM Yiu-chung, JP
Hon FUNG Chi-kin
Dr Hon TANG Siu-tong, JP

Members absent:

Hon Edward HO Sing-tin, JP
Hon Albert HO Chun-yan
Dr Hon David LI Kwok-po, JP
Hon Christine LOH
Hon CHAN Kwok-keung
Hon LAU Chin-shek, JP

Public officers attending:

Miss Denise YUE, JP
Secretary for the Treasury

Mrs Carrie LAM, JP
Deputy Secretary for the Treasury

Mr K K LAM
Principal Executive Officer (General), Finance Bureau

Mr C F REDSTON
Principal Assistant Secretary for the Civil Service

Mr C K WONG
Assistant Director of Accounting Services

Mr Arthur HO
Deputy Secretary for Economic Services

Mr Howard LEE
Principal Assistant Secretary for Economic Services

Mr Albert K Y LAM, JP
Director of Civil Aviation

Mr W Y LEUNG
Assistant Director of Civil Aviation

Mr P L KWAN, JP
Deputy Director of Architectural Services

Mr H W FUNG, JP
Deputy Commissioner for Census and Statistics

Dr P Y LAM, JP
Deputy Director of Health

Mr Anthony K H TONG, JP
Deputy Director of Education

Mrs Marion LAI, JP
Deputy Director of Social Welfare

Mr P W CHAN, JP
Deputy Director of Water Supplies

Clerk in attendance:

Miss Polly YEUNG
Assistant Secretary General 1 (Acting)

Staff in attendance:

Ms LEUNG Siu-kum
Chief Assistant Secretary (1)2

Miss Becky YU
Senior Assistant Secretary (1)3


Item No. 1 - FCR(1999-2000)7

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT SUBCOMMITTEE MADE ON 21 APRIL 1999

The Committee approved the proposal.

Item No. 2 - FCR(1999-2000)8

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE MADE ON 14 APRIL 1999 AND 28 APRIL 1999

2. The Committee approved the proposal.

Item No. 3 - FCR(1999-2000)9

LOAN FUND
HEAD 251 - HOUSING
Housing assistance for civil servants
‥ Subhead 151 Housing loans

3. Referring to the information given in Note 2 of the Enclosure to the discussion paper, Miss Emily LAU asked whether both the salary for civil servants and the property price in 1999-2000 were more or less the same as those in 1998-99. She also sought clarification on the housing allowance payable to Judges in the Judiciary which was the subject of a question raised by her at the meeting of the Legislative Council on 5 May 1999.

4. In reply, the Deputy Secretary for the Treasury (DS/Tsy) clarified that the proposed increase in commitment required in 1999-2000 under Subhead 151 was merely an estimate made on the assumption that both the salary for civil servants and the property price were more or less the same as those in 1998-99. The proposal however would not affect the actual amount of housing loan granted to eligible officers for purchasing residential properties as such loan was determined by their actual salary and the price of the property that they purchased. Regarding the monthly allowance(s) payable to eligible officers in the Judiciary and the public service at large, members noted that the rates of the Home Financing Allowance and the Home Purchase Allowance had been reduced since 1 April 1999 following the approval of the Finance Committee (FC) on 12 March 1999.

5. The Committee approved the proposal.

Item No. 4 - FCR(1999-2000)10

CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND
HEAD 708 - CAPITAL SUBVENTIONS AND MAJOR SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Civil Aviation Department
‥ New Subhead "Study and Trial of Satellite-based Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management Systems"

6. Noting that the existing Air Traffic Control (ATC) and communications systems under the proposal had to be replaced just two years after the opening of the new airport, Mr LUI Ming-wah, Mr Gary CHENG Kai-nam and Mr CHAN Kam-lam queried why the systems had not been developed at the outset when the new airport was planned or when the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) published its first Global Implementation Plan in 1993. In response, the Director of Civil Aviation (DCA) explained that the decision to acquire the existing systems was made as early as 1992 while ICAO only decided for a worldwide implementation of the satellite-based Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Systems in 1993. He stressed that the proposed study and trial of the satellite-based CNS/ATM Systems could only be commenced after ICAO had finalized the technical details of the Systems and started to coordinate and monitor their implementation amongst its member countries all over the world.

7. As regards the benefits of the satellite-based CNS/ATM Systems, DCA advised that the new Systems would tremendously improve the handling and transfer of updated information on weather, status of aircraft and ATC facilities between an aircraft and the ATC centre. The Systems would enable an ATC centre to control air traffic more effectively. Further benefits included savings in flight time and fuel, as well as reduction in disruption to air services arising from adverse weather. The Systems would also extend surveillance coverage and improve navigational accuracy and hence, reduce the required distance of separation between aircraft and allow for greater airspace capacity. DCA stressed that in order to maintain a high standard of flight safety, the study and trial of the Systems should not be postponed.

8. As regards the cost of the whole CNS/ATM project, DCA advised that the estimated cost was $1.32 billion, to be expended during the period 1999-2000 to 2016-17. He pointed out that even if the CNS/ATM Systems were not implemented, the Civil Aviation Department would still need to gradually upgrade or replace the existing ground-based systems to keep up with the advancement in technology and growth in demand for ATC services.

9. On cost recovery of the Systems, DCA advised that the project cost would be recovered from the Airport Authority via the ATC Charge, and from transiting airlines via the En-route Navigation Services Charges. The Airport Authority had been advised on the arrangement. For a few years after the introduction of the CNS/ATM Systems in 2006-07, it was expected that there would be a modest increase in the costs of ATC services in the order of less than 2% of the total annual operating costs of the Airport Authority based on its present cost structure. DCA added that notwithstanding the cost of the CNS/ATM Systems, flight safety was an important consideration in the present proposal. In response to Miss CHOY So-yuk's enquiry on the depreciation of software for the new Systems, DCA advised that the capital costs of the computer software, similar to those of the hardware, would be fully depreciated in 15 years.

10. As regards concerns raised by Miss Emily LAU, Mr TSANG Yok-sing and Mr Howard YOUNG about the latest position of the implementation of the CNS/ATM Systems in the Pearl River Delta area and co-ordination with other countries, DCA confirmed that the Mainland authorities had shown support to the implementation of the new Systems in the Mainland including the Pearl River Delta area since the installation cost of the CNS/ATM Systems was cheaper particularly in areas where it was not cost-effective to provide the conventional ground-based systems. Other countries such as Japan, Singapore and the United States had started their study and trial of the satellite-based CNS/ATM Systems for completion in 2015 in accordance with the instruction of ICAO. Before the completion, the ground-based ATC systems would continue to be used. In response to Mr Howard YOUNG's further enquiry on compatibility of the equipment in aircraft, DCA advised that aircraft produced in recent years were mostly designed to be compatible with both ground-based ATC systems and satellite-based CNS/ATM Systems.

11. The Committee approved the proposal.

Item No. 5 - FCR(1999-2000)11

HEAD 25 - ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
HEAD 26 - CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT
HEAD 170 - SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT
HEAD 194 - WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT
‥ Subhead 149 General departmental expenses
HEAD 37 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
HEAD 40 - EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
‥ Subhead 106 Temporary staff

12. At the Chairman's invitation, DS/Tsy briefed members on the background of the proposal and pointed out that the proposal was to seek members' approval in principle on the likely additional requirement for Departmental Expenses (DE) in the 1999-2000 Estimates for the employment of non-civil service contract staff or hire of services to meet service needs which would be offset by reduced requirement in Personal Emoluments (PE). The proposal would have no additional financial implications. Furthermore, towards the end of the financial year when the exact amount of funds to be redeployed from PE to DE was known, a department would be required to seek approval from FC if the total amount of supplementary provision under DE exceeded $10 million, or from the Secretary for the Treasury (S for Tsy) under delegated authority, for supplementary provision not exceeding $10 million. She also confirmed that members' approval for the remuneration of non-civil service contract staff was not being sought under the present proposal as spending on DE was only limited by the approved provision as long as it was within the approved ambit. According to guidelines stipulated by the Civil Service Bureau, Heads of Department were at liberty to determine the level of entry pay for these staff as long as it was not more favourable than the entry salary for civil servants in comparable civil service ranks. As regards Mr LEE Cheuk-yan's request for prior discussion of the proposal at the Panel on Public Service, the Administration considered that further deliberation at the Panel might not be necessary as the proposal did not involve additional financial commitment and the subject on recruitment of non-civil service contract staff had already been discussed at the meeting of the Panel on Public Service on 18 January 1999 and at a special meeting of FC on 16 April 1999.

13. Mr LAW Chi-kwong expressed concern about the basis on which individual departments worked out the additional funds required under DE for employment of non-civil service contract staff. Referring to paragraph 6 of the discussion paper, he asked why when approval was sought from FC for the additional DE in 1999-2000 under relevant subheads, the departments concerned had not been required to seek approval from FC for the corresponding reduction in PE expenditure at the same time. He also queried the rationale for giving S for Tsy the power to reserve the notional annual mid-point salary (NAMS) saved as a result of reduction in PE expenditure through administrative means and expressed concern about the consequence if S for Tsy failed to exercise such power in the end.

14. In response, DS/Tsy advised that the total amount of additional provision required in DE was calculated by the department concerned according to actual needs, taking into account factors such as the expected duration of employment of the non-civil service staff. The Finance Bureau (FB) would only consider the total additional provision required but not funds for individual posts. DS/Tsy assured members that upon FC's approval of the supplementary provision under DE and pursuant to the authority conferred on S for Tsy under the Public Finance Ordinance (PFO), S for Tsy would, in accordance with existing arrangements, reserve administratively the relevant NAMS value to ensure there were offsetting funds under PE in the respective Heads of Expenditure. DS/Tsy added that this established practice provided for under the PFO had been well established as an effective means in expenditure control.

15. Mr LEE Cheuk-yan remarked that in his view, the proposal involved policy changes. Although the Financial Secretary (FS) had announced in his Budget Speech on 3 March 1999 that the Administration would institute a general freeze on permanent civil service establishment, he questioned why staff could not be recruited as civil servants on agreement terms. He considered that the proposal to employ non-civil service contract staff to perform duties of permanent civil service posts had contravened the established principle that non-civil service staff should only be employed for operational needs during a given period of time, instead of on a long-term basis. He also commented that the Administration's proposal to freeze civil service recruitment was inconsistent with the Administration's pledge at the previous meetings of the Panel on Manpower that the Government would explore means to help create job opportunities so as to relieve the unemployment problem. He considered that the Administration should employ staff on civil service agreement terms, instead of on non-civil service contract terms with a view to reducing staff salaries.

16. In reply, DS/Tsy agreed that the proposal on employment of non-civil service contract staff put forward to the Panel on Public Service for consultation on 18 January 1999 mainly concerned generally short-term staffing requirements Following the FS's announcement in March this year on the freeze of recruitment to permanent civil service pending the results of the Starting Salaries Review (SS Review), departments had to resort to employ non-civil service contract staff to meet their operational needs. She nevertheless considered that employment of staff, whether on civil service or non-civil service terms, would still constitute job opportunities. She did not preclude the possibility that these staff might be absorbed into the permanent establishment in future. At the request of Mr LEE Cheuk-yan, the Administration undertook to provide after the meeting information on the proposed remuneration packages to be offered by the six departments to non-civil service contract staff under the present proposal. Admin.

17. Noting that the SS Review was being conducted by the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service, Mr TAM Yiu-chung enquired whether the Administration would consider formulating the entry salary levels for the non-civil service posts in question on the basis of the result of the SS Review, instead of giving individual Heads of Departments the discretion to decide on the respective levels. He opined that there should be uniform criteria for determining the level of pay for non-civil service contract staff among all Government departments.

18. In response, DS/Tsy explained that the review would take some more time to complete but it was necessary to employ the non-civil service contract staff to meet immediate operational needs. In setting the starting salaries for the non-civil service contract staff, the relevant departments would have due regard to prevailing wage levels in the job market and could also consult the Labour Department. She nevertheless added that some guidelines were available for reference by departments. For example, the monthly salary of a temporary clerical officer was $8,000.

19. In reply to Mr CHAN Wing-chan's enquiry on the savings resulting from recruitment of non-civil service staff under the present proposal, DS/Tsy advised that the funding required for these posts calculated at the NAMS value would be around $220 million, as compared to the estimated supplementary provision of $158 million under the proposal.

20. In response to Mr Michael HO's question on the determination of starting salaries for non-civil service contract staff in the Department of Health, the Deputy Director of Health advised that the Department would make reference to the level of pay in the current job market for individual posts. For example, due to recruitment difficulties, the starting salary for Clinical Psychologists would be the minimum civil service salary point plus increments commensurate with relevant experience. In the case of Pharmacists, in order to provide an opportunity for fresh graduates to enter into the profession, the Department had decided to abolish the entry requirement of a minimum of two years' working experience but at the same time, the starting salary would be lowered correspondingly.

21. Members noted that the Social Welfare Department (SWD) was the only Department which did not undertake to pay professional staff to be employed on non-civil service contract terms the starting salary of the broadly equivalent civil service rank. Dr YEUNG Sum considered that there was insufficient information on how SWD had arrived at its proposed additional provision. On behalf of Members of the Democratic Party, he requested that the proposal for supplementary provision to SWD should be voted on separately from the proposals of the other five departments. Mr CHEUNG Man-kwong also expressed dissatisfaction over the present proposal whereby upon FC's approval, the Administration could proceed to reduce staff salaries. Noting that most of the six departments were prepared to recruit professional staff at the entry salary point of the corresponding civil service rank whereas non-professional staff might be paid a lower salary, Mr LEUNG Yiu-chung considered that the Government was discriminating against non-professionals by reducing their pay.

22. The Deputy Director of Social Welfare stressed that there was an urgent need to recruit staff for strengthening support services to family cases and for handling Comprehensive Social Security Assistance cases. Whilst she could not confirm that all new recruits would be paid the starting salary of the relevant civil service rank, she did not preclude the possibility of so doing if the prevailing employment market warranted. In this connection, S for Tsy commented that it was reasonable for SWD to determine the level of pay for non-civil service contract staff by making reference to the prevailing employment market and recruitment situation. She also pointed out that apart from the 63 Social Security Assistants recruited on contract terms in April 1999, the Director of Social Welfare would decide on the level of pay for the 300 or so staff to be recruited having regard to the market situation in due course. She confirmed that the Administration would not split the present proposal for separating voting as suggested by Dr YEUNG Sum.

23. Mr Andrew WONG queried the present proposal which not only sought members' approval for the employment of non-civil service contract staff but also approval for the departments to incur additional departmental expenses for hire of services. In reply, DS/Tsy explained that to provide flexibility, the proposal also allowed for hire of service in the event that the departments found this option more cost-effective. Under normal circumstances, the expenses on the employment of temporary staff and hire of service would be charged to Subhead 149, which covered general departmental expenses. However, where certain departments had a regular and significant requirement for engaging temporary staff or hiring outside services, such expenditure would be charged to a specific subhead, such as Subhead 106 or Subhead 111.

24. Mr WONG stated his view that the employment of non-civil service contract staff was not a cost-saving measure. Instead, it was a redistribution of funding between different components and subheads. Through employment of non-civil service contract staff, the Administration would be able to test the pay levels in the market with a view to cutting civil service pay. Mr WONG considered that the Administration could have adopted the option of employing staff on civil service agreement terms pending completion of the SS Review and this would not result in an increase in permanent civil service establishment. He objected to the present proposal as he considered the proposed arrangements an abuse of the recruitment practices allowed under Subheads 106 and 149 and a wage cut in disguise.

25. Miss Emily LAU was of the view that the salary level of civil servants should be comparable to that prevailing in the private sector at large. Nevertheless, she considered it more proper and objective if the employment of non-civil service contract staff could be carried out after completion of the SS Review, the results of which would form a basis for determining the salary level. She also asked if there would still be other departments requiring supplementary provision for the employment of non-civil service contract staff.

26. In response, DS/Tsy confirmed that according to the enquiry made by FB, apart from the six departments in question, there was no other department requiring additional provision under DE exceeding $10 million for employment of non-civil service contract staff. As regards the decision on the employment of non-civil service staff, S for Tsy explained that departments had submitted their Draft Estimates of Expenditure prior to the announcement of civil service reform in February this year and FS's announcement on the freeze on the growth of the civil service establishment on 3 March 1999. As these measures could not have been envisaged when the Draft Estimates were prepared, departments requiring additional staff to meet service needs had to redeploy funds to employ non-civil service contract staff.

27. On the timetable for completion of the studies on civil service reform and the SS Review, S for Tsy advised that according to her knowledge, relevant information had been collected for the SS Review. The Standing Commission was expected to submit the report to the Executive Council by June 1999. The Administration should, after consultation with relevant parties, reach a decision by Autumn 1999. She further pointed out that the Administration needed to decide before 1 April 2000 on whether the freeze on civil service recruitment should be continued so that necessary adjustments could be reflected in the 2000-01 Draft Estimates of Expenditure.

28. As regards Miss Emily LAU's enquiry on the factors to be taken into account when considering whether or not exceptional approval should be granted for recruiting disciplinary staff on civil service terms, S for Tsy remarked that the Administration would consider the merits of individual department's application for exemption taking into account factors such as recruitment situation and training needs for staff. She also commented that as new recruits in the disciplinary services grades had to undergo a minimum training period of six months, it would not be cost-effective if these staff would leave the service upon completion of training. In this connection, DS/Tsy confirmed that so far, all disciplinary services had submitted their applications for exceptional approval for recruiting disciplinary grade staff on civil service terms.

29. Referring to the present proposal, Mr LEE Wing-tat pointed out that members were in fact being asked to decide under one single proposal the granting of supplementary provision for general departmental expenses/temporary staff to six different departments whose needs and circumstances might not be the same. However, as the Administration had declined Dr YEUNG Sum's suggestion to split the proposal so that FC could vote on the case of SWD separately, Mr LEE considered the current arrangement unfair as members would be compelled to approve or reject the proposal in its entirety, instead of being able to vote on individual departments' request according to their respective merits. He further remarked that the FC Chairman might wish to look into the appropriateness or otherwise of the existing practice whereby funding requests under different Heads and Subheads were submitted under one single proposal for members' decision. Mr LEE's query was shared by Mr CHEUNG Man-kwong who also asked the Administration to critically review the appropriateness of the present practice. Admin.

30. Mr LEE Wing-tat said that he would not wish to vote against the entire proposal due to his disagreement to the request in respect of SWD. He suggested that consideration of the proposal should be deferred and that the Administration should present the case of the six departments in different papers to facilitate FC's consideration. In this connection, he moved without notice to adjourn discussion on the item.

31. The Chairman then proposed the question on the motion to adjourn discussion on the item. There being no further points made by members, the Chairman put the motion to vote. 16 members voted for the motion, 32 voted against and none abstained.

For:
Miss Cyd HO Sau-lan Mr Michael HO Mun-ka
Mr LEE Wing-tat Mr LEE Cheuk-yan
Mr Martin LEE Chu-ming Mr LEE Kai-ming
Mr Fred LI Wah-ming Mr CHEUNG Man-kwong
Mr LEUNG Yiu-chung Mr SIN Chung-kai
Mr Andrew WONG Wang-fat Dr YEUNG Sum
Miss Emily LAU Wai-hing Mr Andrew CHENG Kar-foo
Mr SZETO Wah Mr LAW Chi-kwong
(16 members)

Against:
Mr Kenneth TING Woo-shou Mr James TIEN Pei-chun
Mr David CHU Yu-lin Mr HO Sai-chu
Dr Raymond HO Chung-tai Mr Eric LI Ka-cheung
Dr LUI Ming-wah Mr NG Leung-sing
Prof NG Ching-fai Miss Margaret NG
Mrs Selina CHOW LIANG Shuk-yee Mr MA Fung-kwok
Mr HUI Cheung-ching Mr Bernard CHAN
Mr CHAN Wing-chan Mr CHAN Kam-lam
Dr LEONG Che-hung Mrs Sophie LEUNG LAU Yau-fun
Mr Gary CHENG Kai-nam Dr Philip WONG Yu-hong
Mr WONG Yung-kan Mr Jasper TSANG Yok-sing
Mr Howard YOUNG Mr YEUNG Yiu-chung
Mr LAU Kong-wah Mr LAU Wong-fat
Mrs Miriam LAU Kin-yee Mr Ambrose LAU Hon-chuen
Miss CHOY So-yuk Mr TAM Yiu-chung
Mr FUNG Chi-kin Dr TANG Siu-tong
(32 members)

32. The motion was negatived.

33. The Chairman then put the funding proposal to vote. 31 members voted for the proposal, 3 voted against and 11 abstained.

For:
Mr Kenneth TING Woo-shou Mr James TIEN Pei-chun
Mr David CHU Yu-lin Mr HO Sai-chu
Dr Raymond HO Chung-tai Mr Eric LI Ka-cheung
Dr LUI Ming-wah Mr NG Leung-sing
Prof NG Ching-fai Miss Margaret NG
Mrs Selina CHOW LIANG Shuk-yee Mr MA Fung-kwok
Mr HUI Cheung-ching Mr Bernard CHAN
Mr CHAN Wing-chan Mr CHAN Kam-lam
Dr LEONG Che-hung Mrs Sophie LEUNG LAU Yau-fun
Mr Gary CHENG Kai-nam Dr Philip WONG Yu-hong
Mr WONG Yung-kan Mr Jasper TSANG Yok-sing
Mr Howard YOUNG Mr YEUNG Yiu-chung
Mr LAU Kong-wah Mr LAU Wong-fat
Mrs Miriam LAU Kin-yee Miss CHOY So-yuk
Mr TAM Yiu-chung Mr FUNG Chi-kin
Dr TANG Siu-tong
(31 members)

Against:
Mr LEE Cheuk-yan
Mr LEUNG Yiu-chung
Mr Andrew WONG Wang-fat
(3 members)

Abstentions:
Miss Cyd HO Sau-lan Mr Michael HO Mun-ka
Mr LEE Wing-tat Mr Martin LEE Chu-ming
Mr LEE Kai-ming Mr CHEUNG Man-kwong
Mr SIN Chung-kai Dr YEUNG Sum
Miss Emily LAU Wai-hing Mr Andrew CHENG Kar-foo
Mr SZETO Wah
(11 members)

34. The Committee approved the proposal.

35. The Committee was adjourned at 4:25 pm.


Legislative Council Secretariat
September 1999