Annual Report 2024

Members perform the functions of scrutinizing bills and subsidiary legislation, examining and approving public expenditure and monitoring the work of the Government through a committee system.

There are three standing committees of the Legislative Council, namely the Finance Committee, the Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Members’ Interests. Standing committees, by virtue of section 9(1) of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance (Cap. 382), may order any person to give evidence, while all other committees may also have this power, where so authorized by the Council, under section 9(2) of Cap. 382.

There are other committees of a standing nature with specific functions stipulated in the Rules of Procedure (“RoP”), namely the Committee on Rules of Procedure, the Committee on Access to the Legislature’s Documents and Records, the House Committee and Panels.

The Committee on Rules of Procedure reviews RoP of the Council and the committee system and proposes to the Council such amendments or changes as are considered necessary.

The Committee on Access to the Legislature’s Documents and Records determines whether a document or record of the Legislature (or its committee) should be made available for access earlier than the expiry of the closure period specified in the Policy on Access to the Legislature’s Documents and Records.

The House Committee considers any matters relating to the business of the Council and monitors progress made in studying bills and subsidiary legislation. Bills and subsidiary legislation that require more in-depth study are scrutinized respectively by Bills Committees and subcommittees, and these committees would report their deliberations to the House Committee.

The committees that monitor and examine policy issues are called Panels. There are currently 18 Panels, the formation and terms of reference of which were approved by the Council on the recommendation of the House Committee. Each Panel shall consist of not less than 6 members and not more than 20 members including the Chairman.

Apart from the above, an investigation committee may be established under RoP 49B(2A) (Disqualification of Member from Office) upon the moving of a censure motion under RoP 49B(1A). After completing its work, the investigation committee is required to report to the Council and is dissolved after tabling of its report.

Select committees may be appointed by the Council for in-depth consideration of matters or bills.

The Finance Committee is one of the three standing committees of the Council. It scrutinizes and approves public expenditure proposals submitted by the Financial Secretary (“FS”). Each year, upon FS’s presentation of the Appropriation Bill to the Council, the President refers the Estimates of Expenditure to the Committee for examination and the Committee holds a series of special meetings for this purpose. After the Appropriation Bill has been passed, the Committee carries out the function of approving proposals to change the approved Estimates. Besides, the Committee approves proposals from FS to expend money from certain Funds¹ established under section 29 of the Public Finance Ordinance (Cap. 2) pursuant to the resolutions on the Funds.

The Committee shall consist of not less than 50 members including the Chairman. Members of the Committee shall be those Members (other than the President) having signified membership in accordance with the Finance Committee Procedure.

Major work

• The Committee deliberated and approved 58 financial proposals involving a total commitment of about $249.9 billion;
• The major financial proposals approved by the Committee included:
  • 28 public works projects involving a total commitment of about $188.5 billion. These included about $27.3 billion funding for the development of San Tin Technopole and establishment of Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park (detailed design for the first phase); about $29.2 billion funding for works projects related to Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area; and about $30.2 billion funding for taking forward the remaining phase of site formation and engineering infrastructure works at Kwu Tung North New Development Area and Fanling North New Development Area;
  • 22 non-public works funding proposals involving a total commitment of about $61.4 billion. These included the $6 billion commitment for implementing the Subsidy Programme for the Setup of Life and Health Technology Research Institute(s); the $10 billion commitment for implementing the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme; and the $33.6 billion commitment for implementing the Subsidy Scheme for Abolition of MPF Offsetting Arrangement; and
  • 8 establishment proposals involving 13 directorate posts;
• The Committee held a series of special meetings, comprising 21 sessions, from 15 to 19 April 2024 to examine the 2024-2025 Estimates of Expenditure; and
• Prior to the special meetings, Members raised about 3 800 written questions seeking written replies from the Government on the Estimates of Expenditure. About 90 supplementary questions and requests for additional information were referred to the Government for reply after the special meetings. The Council passed the Appropriation Bill 2024 on 8 May 2024.

[📄Report on the examination of the Estimates of Expenditure 2024-2025]

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• ¹
  These Funds include Capital Works Reserve Fund, Capital Investment Fund, Loan Fund, Disaster Relief Fund, and Innovation and Technology Fund.

The Public Works Subcommittee examines the Government’s proposals to upgrade projects to or downgrade them from Category A of the Public Works Programme, or concerning changes to the scope of and approved estimates for Category A projects, and makes recommendations to the Finance Committee as appropriate. Projects belonging to Category A are those in all aspects ready for the award of contract and for construction works to proceed.

Major work

• During the session, the Subcommittee examined 24 proposals put forward by the Government, and recommended all of them to the Finance Committee for approval.

Local visit

Visit to Choi Hing Road transitional housing project in Ngau Tau Kok

On 29 January 2024, the Subcommittee visited the Choi Hing Road transitional housing project in Ngau Tau Kok to better understand the demounting and re-use arrangements of the Modular Integrated Construction modules.

The Establishment Subcommittee examines and makes recommendations to the Finance Committee on the Government’s proposals for the creation, redeployment and deletion of permanent and supernumerary directorate posts, and for changes to the structure of civil service ranks and grades.

Major work

• During the session, the Subcommittee examined 10 proposals put forward by the Government, and recommended all of them to the Finance Committee for approval.

The Public Accounts Committee is one of the three standing committees of the Council. It is responsible for considering the Director of Audit’s reports on the Government’s accounts, as well as the results of value for money audits carried out on the Government and other organizations within the purview of public audit.

Major work

• The Committee considered the Director of Audit’s Report on the Accounts of the Government for the year ended 31 March 2024, as well as Report Nos. 82 and 83 on the results of value for money audits, and examined the following subjects contained in the Reports:
  

  Report No. 82

  • Customs and Excise Department’s efforts in facilitating trade and promoting economic development;
  • emergency dental services and elderly dental care support;
  • gifted education;
  • Hongkong Post: Development of business;
  • provision and monitoring of Rehabus services;
  • support measures for agricultural industry by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department;
  • upgrading and operation of San Wai Sewage Treatment Works; and
  • work of Countryside Conservation Office; and

  Report No. 83

  • Nano and Advanced Materials Institute;
  • planning and management of sheltered space within Hong Kong waters;
  • Producer Responsibility Scheme on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment;
  • regulation of operations of small unmanned aircraft;
  • Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly;
  • The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: Repair and maintenance of university premises;
  • Tuen Mun—Chek Lap Kok Link; and
  • Youth Development Fund;
• The Committee held six public hearings for detailed investigation of two subjects selected from Report No. 82, namely, emergency dental services and elderly dental care support, as well as provision and monitoring of Rehabus services. The Committee’s Report containing its recommendations and conclusions was tabled at the Council on 17 July 2024; and
• As at the end of the 2024 session, three public hearings have been conducted by the Committee for detailed investigation of two subjects selected from Report No. 83, namely Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, and Tuen Mun—Chek Lap Kok Link. The Committee has planned to table its Report on these two subjects in Council in the next session.

[📄Reports of the Committee]

The Committee on Members’ Interests is one of the three standing committees of the Council. It examines the arrangements made for the compilation, maintenance and accessibility of the Register of Members’ Interests. It considers and investigates complaints in relation to Members’ registration and declaration of interests and their conduct concerning claims for the reimbursement of operating expenses or applications for advance of operating funds. It also considers matters of ethics in relation to Members’ conduct in their capacity as such, and gives advice and issues guidelines on such matters, etc.

Major work

• During the session, the Committee received three complaints and handled them in accordance with the Procedure of the Committee on Members’ Interests for Handling Complaints.

The Committee on Rules of Procedure reviews the Council’s Rules of Procedure (“RoP”) and the committee system, and proposes to the Council any amendments or changes it considers necessary.

Major work

• During the session, the Committee considered and endorsed the Legislative Council Secretariat’s proposed follow-up work in relation to the Department of Justice (“DoJ”)’s proposals to make formatting amendments to RoP of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Instrument A501) then published on the Hong Kong e-Legislation (“HKeL”), which was not a verified copy of RoP, and to publish a verified copy of RoP on HKeL. In considering the matters, the Committee noted that the formatting amendments proposed by DoJ would not change the legal effect of RoP and found them agreeable. The formatting amendments were subsequently made to RoP through Part 8 of Editorial Record (E.R. 6 of 2024) under section 14A of the Legislation Publication Ordinance (Cap. 614), and DoJ published the first verified copy of RoP on HKeL (https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/A501) on 7 November 2024.

[📄Report of the Committee]

The Committee on Access to the Legislature’s Documents and Records determines whether a document or record of the Legislature (or its committee) should be made available for access earlier than the expiry of the closure period specified in the Policy on Access to the Legislature’s Documents and Records (“the Policy”) (Schedule 2 to the Rules of Procedure); sets guidelines for implementing the Policy; considers any objection against the denial of access to such a document or record by the Clerk to the Legislative Council; and considers any other matter relating to or arising from the Policy.

Major work

• The Committee approved access requests from Members/the Administration/public organizations/members of the public for closed documents and records of the Legislature before expiry of the closure period specified in the Policy [List of approved cases and list of denied cases]; and
• In accordance with the Policy, the Committee conducted reviews on the time-expired documents and records to see whether access could be made available [List of time-expired documents and records disclosed].

The House Committee normally meets weekly on Fridays to prepare for meetings of the Council and considers matters relating to the Council’s business while the Council is in session. An important function of the Committee is to decide on the manner of consideration of bills introduced into the Council and subsidiary legislation tabled in Council or presented to the Council for approval. The Committee also serves as a focal point for establishing a formal and regular dialogue with the Government. The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Committee meet with the Chief ‍Secretary ‍for ‍Administration on a regular basis to discuss matters of mutual concern.

The Committee shall consist of not less than 50 members including the Chairman. Members of the Committee shall be those Members (other than the President) having signified membership in accordance with the House Rules.

Major work

• The Committee considered 32 bills introduced into the Council and formed 26 Bills Committees to scrutinize bills;
• The Committee considered 184 items of subsidiary legislation, including 13 ‍proposed resolutions presented by the Government, and formed ‍11 subcommittees to study 26 items of subsidiary legislation subject to negative vetting and three ‍proposed resolutions which relate to subsidiary legislation subject to positive vetting; and
• In addition, the Committee formed the Subcommittee to Study Matters Relating to Basic Law Article 23 Legislation to prepare for the Safeguarding National Security Bill.

Subcommittees of the House Committee

The House Committee may appoint a subcommittee to assist its consideration of (a) an item of subsidiary legislation or an instrument made under an ordinance; or (b) an issue of public concern which falls outside the purview of Panels or straddles the purview of a number of Panels; or (c) any other matter relating to the business of the Council. A subcommittee appointed to consider items (a) and (c) shall consist of not less than 3 members and not more than 15 members including the Chairman whereas a subcommittee appointed to consider item (b) shall consist of not less than 3 members and not more than 20 members including the Chairman. The following subcommittees were in operation during the session.

The House Committee may allocate bills, other than the Appropriation Bill and bills not referred to the House Committee by the Council, to Bills Committees for detailed scrutiny. A Bills Committee will consider the principles and merits of the bill concerned and its detailed provisions, and may propose amendments to the bill. It shall consist of not less than 3 members and not more than 15 members including the Chairman. The Chairman of each Bills Committee is elected from among its members. After a Bills Committee has completed scrutiny of a bill, it notifies the House Committee and advises the Committee in writing of its deliberations. Bills Committees are dissolved upon passage of the bills concerned or as decided by the House Committee.

The maximum number of Bills Committees that may be in operation at any one time is limited to 16. When more than 16 Bills Committees are formed, a queuing system will automatically be activated.

The House Committee may appoint subcommittees to assist its consideration of subsidiary legislation and instruments made under relevant ordinances. A subcommittee will consider the policy aspects of the subsidiary legislation/instrument concerned, its detailed provisions and amendments, if any, to the subsidiary legislation/instrument. It shall consist of not less than 3 members and not more than 15 members including the Chairman. The Chairman of each subcommittee is elected from among its members. A subcommittee reports its deliberations to the House Committee upon completion of scrutiny work. There is no restriction on the maximum number of such subcommittees operating at any one time.

Panels are committees of the Council. They provide a forum for Members to deliberate on policy matters and study issues relating to the policy areas of their corresponding bureaux which are of public concern. Items for discussion can be brought up by members of the Panel, referred to it by the House Committee or other committees, proposed by the Government, or raised by other Members following meetings with District Councils or upon receipt of complaints or representations. Panels also give views on major legislative and financial proposals before their introduction into the Council or Finance Committee.

A Panel may appoint subcommittees to study specific issues and present reports to the Council as it considers appropriate. A Panel or its subcommittee may meet jointly with other Panel(s) or its subcommittee(s) to consider any matter of common interest to the Panels.

The chairman and deputy chairman of a Panel are elected by and from among its members.

The 18 Panels are:

• Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services
• Panel on Commerce, Industry, Innovation and Technology
• Panel on Constitutional Affairs
• Panel on Development
• Panel on Economic Development
• Panel on Education
• Panel on Environmental Affairs
• Panel on Financial Affairs
• Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene
• Panel on Health Services
• Panel on Home Affairs, Culture and Sports
• Panel on Housing
• Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting
• Panel on Manpower
• Panel on Public Service
• Panel on Security
• Panel on Transport
• Panel on Welfare Services

The Panel monitors and examines, consistent with maintaining the independence of the Judiciary and the rule of law, policy matters relating to the administration of justice and legal services.

Major work

• The Panel deliberated on various policy initiatives of the Department of Justice (“DoJ”), including strengthening cooperation with international legal and dispute resolution bodies and attracting their presence or carrying out of activities in Hong Kong, deepening mediation culture and the potential of developing sports-related dispute resolution in Hong Kong, as well as the taking forward of the construction of rule of law in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area;
• The Panel also received respective briefings on the work and achievements of DoJ’s Prosecution Division in 2023 and the results achieved by the visits led by the Secretary for Justice to promote the legal and dispute resolution services in 2024, as well as the progress on the systematic review of statutory laws of Hong Kong by the Law Reform Commission Secretariat;
• The Panel was briefed on the work of the Judiciary, including its ongoing measures and latest initiatives in promoting the use of mediation as an alternative means of resolving disputes in court proceedings, expediting the scheduling of court proceedings, as well as making greater and wider use of technology for enhancing the efficiency of court operations;
• The Panel was consulted on the Basic Law Article 23 legislation and the legislative proposals to amend the Legal Officers Ordinance (Cap. 87) and other related ordinances to suitably revise the appointment qualification for legal officers and certain officers specified in those ordinances; and
• The Panel also examined related financial proposals put forward by DoJ and the Judiciary Administration, including the information technology infrastructure and technology related initiatives in the District Court Building at Caroline Hill Road, the proposed works project for the conversion of the Old Wan Chai Police Station into the headquarters of the International Organization for Mediation, as well as the respective directorate staffing proposals for supporting DoJ’s initiatives in relation to the International Organization for Mediation and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy.

[📄Report of the Panel]

Local visit

Visit to new mega courtroom at Wanchai Law Courts Building

On 2 February 2024, the Panel visited the new mega courtroom at Wanchai Law Courts Building at the invitation of the Judiciary to get a better grasp of the Judiciary’s proposed information technology and audio-visual infrastructure provisions at the new District Court Building at Caroline Hill Road.

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to commerce, industry, business and services promotion, innovation and technology (“I&T”), intellectual property (“IP”) protection and inward investment promotion.

Major work

• The Panel supported the Administration’s work to expedite the development of new quality productive forces, promote high-quality economy development, and actively integrate Hong Kong into the overall development of the country, in line with the National 14th Five-‍Year Plan, and establish Hong ‍Kong’s important position in developing into an international I&T hub;
• The Panel supported the proposed establishment of a $10 billion New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme (“NIAS”) under the Innovation and Technology Fund to accelerate the development of new industrialization in Hong Kong. Members called on the Administration to expedite the vetting process and suggested that the scope of NIAS be expanded to cover traditional manufacturing industries;
• Recognizing the importance of promoting the development of a life and health technology ecosystem in Hong Kong, the Panel supported the launch of a $6 billion subsidy programme to assist local universities in establishing life and health technology research institutes;
• The Panel discussed the Administration’s measures to support and assist small and medium enterprises (“SMEs”) in Hong Kong, and welcomed the launch of “E-commerce Easy” under the BUD Fund to provide financial support for enterprises to implement e-‍commerce projects in the Mainland. Members urged the Administration to step up its efforts to assist SMEs in developing e-‍commerce business in the Mainland;
• The Panel discussed the work of Invest Hong Kong in promoting inward investment. Members suggested that the Administration should actively attract enterprises and family offices from the Belt and Road countries to set up or expand their business in Hong Kong, step up its publicity and promotional efforts, and introduce Hong Kong’s business advantages and opportunities to overseas enterprises;
• The Panel supported the Administration’s continued efforts in implementing a series of policies and measures to support developing Hong Kong into a regional IP trading centre. Members urged the Administration to step up efforts in facilitating cross-boundary IP protection between the Mainland and Hong Kong to provide convenience for Hong Kong patent owners to seek patent protection in the Mainland; and
• Expressing concern about the progress of Hong Kong’s request for accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (“RCEP”), members urged the Administration to proactively liaise with the business sectors and stakeholders of various RCEP Members with a view to soliciting their support for the accession.

[📄Report of the Panel]

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to the implementation of the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, relations between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“HKSAR”) Government and the Central People’s Government and other Mainland authorities, electoral matters, district organizations, human rights, personal data protection and press freedom.

Major work

• The Panel was briefed on the Electoral Affairs Commission Report on the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election. Members were satisfied with the overall election arrangements, in particular the setting up of Near Boundary Polling Stations to facilitate electors working and living in the Mainland to cast their votes in the election. In view of the incident of the failure of the Electronic Poll Register system, members called on the Administration to strengthen system administration;
• The Panel was briefed on the legislative framework for the Improving Electoral Arrangements (Consolidated Amendments) Bill. In preparation for the coming 2025 Legislative Council General Election, members urged the Administration to introduce more information technology and smart technologies to enhance efficiency of the election;
• The Panel was briefed on the Administration’s work on promoting the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law. Members suggested adopting more soft-selling approaches in the promotion among members of the public, and stepping up publicity at district level jointly with District Councils;
• On the implementation of patriotic education, the Panel supported the establishment of the Working Group on Patriotic Education and hoped that the Working Group and its sub-groups would actively collaborate with various sectors of the community to jointly take forward patriotic education;
• The Panel was briefed on the arrangements for HKSAR to strengthen regional cooperation with the Mainland. Members commended the effectiveness of the work of the five Mainland offices of the HKSAR Government in, among others, strengthening liaison and communication with the Central Authorities and the provincial and municipal governments. Members were consulted on the staffing proposal to retain the posts of Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner (1) for the Development of the Greater Bay Area;
• The Panel received briefings by the Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission (“EOC”) and by the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (“PCPD”) on the work of EOC and the office of PCPD respectively;
• The Panel was briefed on the United Nations Human Rights Council’s fourth review of HKSAR, and discussed the outline of the fourth report of HKSAR under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; and
• The Subcommittee on Improving the Practical Arrangements for Elections established under the Panel completed its work in this session and submitted its report to the Panel.

[📄Report of the Panel]

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to lands, buildings, planning, water supply, development-related heritage conservation, Public Works Programme and other works matters.

Major work

• The Panel continued to monitor the Government’s work in taking forward various initiatives to increase land and housing supply. The Administration briefed the Panel on the development proposals of Lau Fau Shan/Tsim Bei Tsui/Pak Nai area and Ngau Tam Mei. The Panel was also consulted on the public works proposals relating to San Tin Technopole, Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area, and Kwu Tung North/Fanling North New Development Area. The Panel supported the adoption of the “development of local districts” approach in these three areas on a pilot basis, and requested the Administration to provide appropriate rehousing and compensation arrangements for households and business operators affected by the development;
• The Administration briefed the Panel on the study recommendations for formulating the Eco-recreation Corridor in South Lantau. The Panel considered that the Administration should adopt a more proactive approach in the planning of the above project and leverage on the “infrastructure‑led” and “capacity‑creating” strategies to fully exploit the tourism potential of South Lantau;
• In examining the progress of work of the Urban Renewal Authority (“URA”), the Panel recognized URA’s efforts in promoting the rejuvenation of old urban areas but was concerned about the overall strategy URA had in place and its financial capability to sustain its redevelopment projects amidst the rapid ageing of buildings and the downturn of the property market in Hong Kong. The Panel suggested the Administration explore how to leverage planning tools, such as allowing cross-district transfer of plot ratios, and encourage private sector to take part in redevelopment;
• The Panel received the Administration’s briefing on the implementation progress of various heritage conservation initiatives. The Panel considered that while conserving historic buildings, the Administration should also seek to revitalize them and enhance public understanding of their background and heritage value. The Panel also suggested that the Administration should identify and promote historic spots with tourism potential through inter-departmental collaboration;
• The Administration briefed the Panel on the progress of streamlining development-related administrative procedures, the overarching principle of which was premised on the Government having the dual roles of “regulator” and “facilitator”. The Panel urged the Administration to put in place specific mechanisms and measures to motivate officials to adopt the role of a “facilitator”;
• The Panel was consulted on the proposals in relation to the amendment of the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance (Cap. 531). The Panel generally supported the directions for the legislative amendments proposed by the Administration, as well as the fine-tuned legislative amendment proposals in response to the views received during the public engagement exercise; and
• The Subcommittee to Study Policy Issues Relating to the Harbourfront established under the Panel completed its work in this session and submitted its report to the Panel in June 2024.

[📄Report of the Panel]

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to economic infrastructure and services, including air and sea transport facilities and services, postal services, consumer protection, competition policy and tourism.

Major work

• The Panel continued to monitor the latest development of the Three-Runway System (“3RS”), and urged the Airport Authority Hong Kong to ensure smooth transition from the two-runway system to 3RS, including commissioning passenger facilities in a timely manner;
• The Panel discussed the cancellation of a total number of 786 passenger flights by an airline from end 2023 to early 2024 and two incidents occurred in June 2024 concerning a freighter and the failure of the flight information display system of Hong Kong International Airport. The authorities were requested to take measures to avoid the recurrence of similar incidents, including ensuring the availability of adequate experienced staff to meet operational needs and enhancing the emergency response mechanism;
• The Panel supported the Action Plan on Maritime and Port Development Strategy, and urged the Administration and the industry to jointly review the structural changes of the industry and expeditiously promote smart development of Kwai Tsing Container Terminals;
• The Panel received an annual briefing by the Hong Kong Tourism Board on its work plan for 2024-2025, and suggested that the Administration strengthen the integration of sports, culture and tourism to develop diversified tourism experiences;
• The Panel received an update from Hong Kong Disneyland Resort on its operation in fiscal year 2023, and suggested that the Resort step up marketing efforts outside Hong Kong and introduce admission tickets for different time slots throughout the day to broaden the source of visitors; and
• The Panel was briefed by the Competition Commission on its work, and requested the Administration to enhance the Commission’s investigative and enforcement powers.

[📄Report of the Panel]

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to education.

Major work

• The Panel was briefed on and generally supported the Administration’s policy initiative of building Hong Kong as an international post-secondary education hub to nurture and attract outstanding talents;
• The Panel received updates on the implementation of vocational and professional education and training, including the work of the Vocational Training Council and the establishment of universities of applied sciences;
• The Panel closely monitored the ongoing renewal of the school curriculum and gave views to the implementation of Physical Education, Arts Education, and information technology in education in primary and secondary schools, as well as the introduction of Primary Science and Primary Humanities;
• The Panel discussed the Administration’s initiatives to support students with special educational needs to meet their learning needs and non-Chinese speaking students to master the Chinese language and integrate into the society;
• Panel members were gravely concerned about the spate of student suicides and held a joint meeting with the Panel on Health Services and Panel on Welfare to deliberate on Hong Kong’s mental health policy;
• The Panel exchanged views with the Administration on ways to foster home-school cooperation to facilitate the healthy development of children;
• The Panel continued to monitor the Administration’s measures to build up a high-quality teaching force, including upholding of teachers’ professional conduct and enhancing the provision of professional training;
• The Panel followed closely on the impact brought about by the decline in school-age population and the effectiveness of the measures implemented to stabilize the teaching and learning environment;
• The Panel was consulted on two financial proposals, namely Teacher Professional Development Fund and Research Matching Grant Scheme, as well as two capital works projects, namely the transformation of K. K. Leung Building into a research and development hub for The University of Hong Kong and the construction of an engineering building at Central Campus of The Chinese University of Hong Kong; and
• The Subcommittee on Promoting the Development of Hong Kong into an International Education Hub established under the Panel commenced work in this session.

[📄Report of the Panel]

Visit outside Hong Kong

Visit to Shanghai and Suzhou

From 12 to 15 August 2024, the Panel conducted a duty visit to Shanghai and Suzhou to better understand their work in developing high-quality education, promoting artificial intelligence technologies and research-academic-industry collaboration, activating research and development outcome transformation, as well as improving talent cultivation.

[📄Report of the visit]

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to environmental matters, energy matters (including energy supply and safety), conservation, sustainable development and weather information services.

Major work

• The Panel discussed the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong and the Green Transformation Roadmap of Public Buses and Taxis. The Panel also exchanged views with the Administration on the conversion of petrol filling stations into quick charging stations or petrol-cum-charging stations;
• The Panel was consulted on the Administration’s waste management strategies and measures, including the way forward for municipal solid waste charging, regulation of disposable plastic tableware and other plastic products, and development of modern waste-to-energy incinerators;
• The Panel received progress updates on the major development and management work of the Robin’s Nest Country Park, facility enhancement works of other country parks, and water quality improvement in Victoria Harbour;
• The Panel exchanged views with the Administration on forecasting and coping with extreme weather, and considered a financial proposal for the implementation of a Phased Array Weather Radar System network in Hong Kong;
• The Panel discussed the annual tariff review of the two power companies and followed up on issues arising from several electrical incidents in 2024;
• The Panel was consulted on a Member’s Bill to establish the Hong Kong Institute of Qualified Environmental Professionals as a statutory body; as well as legislative proposals to combat the conduct of unlicensed specified processes, implement the relevant amendments to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, and implement the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on the phasing down of hydrofluorocarbons and related matters; and
• The Panel was consulted on public works proposals for taking forward the construction of Organic Resources Recovery Centre Phase 2 (O·PARK2), Annex Block at the Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters, and West Kowloon and Tsuen Wan village sewerage.

[📄Report of the Panel]

Local visits

Visit to food waste treatment facilities

On 20 May 2024, the Panel visited the Food TranSmarter, a food waste pre-treatment system, at Tai Po Hui Market and Organic Recovery Centre Phase 2 (O·PARK2) in Sha Ling of North District to better understand the Administration’s latest initiatives in recycling food waste.

Visit to Lamma Power Station of The Hongkong Electric Company, Limited

On 7 October 2024, the Panel visited the Lamma Power Station of The Hongkong Electric Company, Limited to gain a deeper understanding on local power generation, and the company’s efforts towards achieving carbon neutrality and coping with climate change and extreme weather.

Visit to Hong Kong Observatory

On 5 November 2024, the Panel visited the Hong Kong Observatory to learn about the latest development of its work on monitoring and forecasting weather, as well as providing meteorological services.

Visit to the plant of Swire Coca-Cola HK and New Life Plastics

On 12 November 2024, the Panel visited the plant of Swire Coca-Cola HK and the recycling facility of New Life Plastics to better understand their sustainable development plans of recycling and processing plastic products.

Visit to Black Point Power Station of CLP Power Hong Kong Limited

On 18 November 2024, the Panel visited Black Point Power Station of CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (“CLP”) to gain insights on its operation, CLP’s decarbonization roadmap, as well as the mitigation measures taken to cope with extreme weather.

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to financial and finance matters.

Major work

• The Panel exchanged views with the Financial Secretary on matters relating to Hong Kong’s macroeconomic situation. Members discussed the opportunities brought about by the measures announced by the China Securities Regulatory Commission to consolidate Hong Kong’s financial market, measures to stabilize the non-residential property market, and the concern of small and medium enterprises (“SMEs”) about banks requiring early repayment of loans due to a drop in the value of the commercial and industrial properties used as collateral;
• During briefings by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Members discussed with the Authority subjects including measures to support financing of SMEs, impact of property market downturn on mortgage borrowers, investment strategies and performance of the Exchange Fund, and the development of offshore Renminbi business and digital banks;
• The Panel received the Administration’s briefing on the proposed regulatory regime for over-the-counter (“OTC”) trading of virtual assets (“VA”). Members expressed views on the development of emerging VA-related business activities, protection for investors and cross-border cooperation in regulating OTC service providers;
• The Panel continued to monitor progress of the development of the electronic mandatory provident fund platform (“eMPF Platform”) project. Members noted that the phased onboarding of trustees to the eMPF Platform would commence in June 2024 and the migration of all MPF account information would complete by the end of 2025. Members expressed concern about the data security risks involved in the process of data migration and onboarding of trustees to the platform and whether the launch date of the eMPF Platform could tie in with the complete abolition of the arrangement of offsetting severance payment and long service payment with the accrued benefits of employers’ mandatory contributions under the MPF System; and
• The Panel was briefed by the Administration on the implementation of various short-term measures recommended by the Task Force on Enhancing Stock Market Liquidity, and on a series of enhancement measures to further boost market efficiency and liquidity. Members suggested that Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited or other government funds should be allowed to purchase new shares of the innovation and technology (“I&T”) industry, so as to send a positive message to the market that the Government supported I&T companies to land in Hong Kong to engage in financing and listing activities.

[📄Report of the Panel]

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to food safety, environmental hygiene and agriculture and fisheries.

Major work

• Members were generally supportive of the Administration’s proposals to amend the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD) and the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap. 132V). They called on the Administration to expedite the review of and amendments to other legislation relating to food safety and strengthen relevant regulatory work to better protect public health;
• The Panel in general supported the Administration to implement a number of measures, including the introduction of a “Composite Permit” for sale of various kinds of restricted foods by permit holders, to streamline the food business licensing regime;
• Members generally supported the Administration’s legislative proposals to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and deterrence in handling various environmental hygiene problems, such as shopfront extension, water seepage in buildings and “garbage apartments”. Members expressed concerns about the implementation details and effectiveness of various proposals, as well as the possible impact of the proposals on the operation of shops and the business environment;
• The Panel supported the proposed delineation of certain quality farmland as 37 Agricultural Priority Areas (“APAs”) through administrative means. Members called for the provision of sufficient incentives to encourage owners of private land in APAs to use their farmland for long-term agricultural purposes. Members also made suggestions on how to promote the sustainable development of the local agricultural industry;
• When discussing the regulation of oyster farming activities in Deep Bay, the Panel suggested that the Administration should cap the number and size of oyster rafts, make use of technology to assist in monitoring the number and operation of oyster rafts, require oyster raft operators to register with real names, and set up an exit mechanism to achieve effective management and sustainable development of oyster farming in Deep Bay; and
• The Panel generally supported the proposed amendments to the Private Columbaria Ordinance (Cap. 630). Members were pleased to note that the Administration had taken on board their suggestion to amend the proposed time limit for the temporary keeping of each set of ashes at the premises of registered masons that met specified conditions, from 7 to 14 calendar days, to better cater for the operational needs of those masons.

[📄Report of the Panel]

Visit to modern mariculture demonstration farm at Tung Lung Chau fish culture zone

On 5 November 2024, the Panel visited the modern mariculture demonstration farm of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department at the Tung Lung Chau fish culture zone, to gain a deeper understanding of the latest development of the local mariculture industry.

Visit outside Hong Kong

Visit to Nanjing and Yangzhou

From 21 to 24 August 2024, the Panel conducted a duty visit to Nanjing and Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, to understand the policy measures and the latest situation in respect of urban and cityscape management, food safety regulation, publicity and education, as well as the development of agriculture and fisheries industries in the province and municipalities.

[📄Report of the visit]

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to medical and health services.

Major work

• The Panel generally supported the Administration’s establishment of the Primary Healthcare Commission. It also gave views and made suggestions on matters relating to the taking forward of primary healthcare services, including District Health Centres (“DHCs”) and DHC Expresses, Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme, tobacco control, support for assisted reproductive services, and oral health;
• Some members expressed concern about the arrangements regarding appointment of members of the Review Committee on the Management of the Public Hospital System, and considered that the outcome of the review should be made public. Members urged the Hospital ‍Authority (“HA”) to regularly review the Advance Incident Reporting System. Additionally, some members suggested that the Administration should link funding of HA to its service quality or tie medical incidents to the remuneration of HA’s management staff. There was also a suggestion of setting up a hotline for reporting problems with hospital facilities. Furthermore, some members believed that the shortage of healthcare personnel would increase the risk of medical incidents and therefore urged HA to take measures to address the problem;
• Some members criticized HA for lacking transparency in its current way of announcing medical incidents. Many medical incidents were announced at night and no press conference was held to explain each medical incident;
• The Panel was concerned about the persistent shortage of doctors, general nurses and dental hygienists, as shown in the results of the Healthcare Manpower Projection 2023. Some members pointed out that the current public dental services were insufficient and private dental services were expensive. Regarding a surplus of dentists in 2040 as indicated by the Projection results, members questioned the projection method and were of the view that the service usage data could not reflect the actual demand. They therefore urged the Administration to expand public dental services and link the demand for dentists to the population ratio. Some other members considered that the Administration should study the establishment of an additional dental school; and
• Some members criticized the Administration for lacking an overall strategy to address mental health issues. The establishment of a cross-bureaux coordination was therefore suggested to integrate resources to address the issues at a higher level. The Panel also gave views and made suggestions on matters including mental health of students, and identification of high-risk groups and their treatment.

[📄Report of the Panel]

Local visit

Visit to Hong Kong Genome Institute

On 2 May 2024, the Panel visited the Hong Kong Genome Institute to gain insights into the latest development of implementing the Hong Kong Genome Project.

Visit outside Hong Kong

Visit to Zhongshan Chen Xinghai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and the University of Hong Kong-‍Shenzhen Hospital

On 22 June 2024, the Panel visited the Zhongshan Chen Xinghai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and the University of Hong Kong-‍Shenzhen Hospital to gain insights into the medical standards, services and facilities of the relevant hospitals and the implementation of the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme, and to explore ways on how cross-‍boundary medical cooperation could be further promoted.

[📄Report of the visit]

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to district, community and rural matters, civic education, building management, youth matters, women matters, Family Council, provision of leisure and cultural services, development of arts and culture, public entertainment, sports and recreation.

Major work

• The Panel supported the setting up of Chinese Culture Promotion Office and received a briefing on its work plan. Members suggested that the Administration should make reference to the practices of Mainland cities in integrating Chinese culture into the design of various communal facilities, while leveraging the strength of District Councils to promote Chinese culture in the community;
• The Panel expressed support for the Clansmen Culture Promotion Scheme launched by the Home Affairs Department to provide funding support to clansmen associations to organize activities for promoting clansmen culture and facilitating cultural exchange, with an aim to deepen the public’s understanding of and sense of belonging to their hometown;
• The Panel was briefed on the latest progress of work in safeguarding and promoting intangible cultural heritage (“ICH”) by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Members suggested that the Administration should promote ICH tourism under the core concept of “ICH is everywhere in Hong Kong” by identifying ICH-related places across the territory and linking them up to form tourism itineraries;
• The Panel discussed the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development newly published by the Administration. Members urged the Administration to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as the “capital of international mega arts and cultural events” by hosting and supporting more large-scale, diverse and innovative arts and cultural events;
• The Panel closely monitored the implementation progress of the Youth Development Blueprint, and was briefed on the latest progress of various initiatives on promoting Hong Kong youth in pursuing innovation and entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, promoting youth internship and exchange outside Hong Kong, and nurturing positive thinking among young people;
• The Panel was briefed on the work progress of the Community Care Fund, including the new assistance programme of the Community Living Room (“CLR”) projects in To Kwa Wan, Hung Hom and Nam Cheong under the Pilot Programme on CLR. Members opined that CLRs should be set up in every district which had more subdivided unit households (e.g. Sham Shui Po, Yau Tsim Mong); and
• The Subcommittee on Promoting Family Education established under the Panel completed its work in this session and submitted its report to the Panel in July 2024.

[📄Report of the Panel]

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to private and public housing.

Major work

• The Panel discussed and generally supported the Administration’s proposal to devise a system on the renting of subdivided units (“SDUs”) in residential buildings with the aim of gradually eradicating substandard SDUs. Meanwhile, members expressed concern about the availability of sufficient Basic Housing Units at affordable rents and the supply of public housing necessary to support the implementation of the system. Members also suggested stepping up efforts to publicize the statutory protection for SDU tenants under tenancy control, and enhancing enforcement actions;
• Regarding the measures taken by the Hong Kong Housing Authority (“HA”) to combat public rental housing (“PRH”) tenancy abuse, members were concerned about how to prevent exploitation of the arrangement for awarding persons and service contractors who provide concrete intelligence regarding abuse of PRH resources, and whether there would be adverse impact on neighbourhood harmony in PRH estates;
• During the briefing on the Well-being Design Guide for public housing, members urged the Administration to establish an implementation and monitoring mechanism to ensure that the guide could be perennially implemented with sustained results across various PRH estates. Members were particularly concerned about addressing the needs of elderly persons and made a number of suggestions in this regard; and
• The Panel discussed the outcome of the 2024 PRH rent review. Members expressed concern about the financial position of HA in the coming years, and suggested enhancing the rent adjustment mechanism. They were of the view that additional factors such as inflation, non-housing living expenses and the proportion of household disposable income should be considered in setting the rent adjustment rate.

[📄Report of the Panel]

Visit to Choi Hing Road Light Public Housing show flats

On 11 June 2024, the Panel visited the show flats of Choi Hing Road Light Public Housing (“LPH”) in Ngau Tau Kok to learn about the latest progress of the LPH project.

Visit to Zhuhai and Shenzhen

On 21 and 22 July 2024, the Panel conducted a duty visit to Zhuhai and Shenzhen to observe the manufacturing process of concrete Modular Integrated Construction modules. The visit also aimed to explore how to create high-quality public housing through green technology, modular construction techniques, etc., as well as to learn about the utilization of community space to create a harmonious living environment.

[📄Report of the visit]

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to information technology, telecommunications, broadcasting, film services and creative industry.

Major work

• The Panel discussed measures to support the development of digital economy in Hong Kong. Members called on the Administration to enhance Hong Kong’s digital infrastructure on multiple fronts, including improving the planning of land and facilities for innovation and technology development (such as the Artificial Intelligence Supercomputing Centre), spearheading promotion of digital policies through the Digital Policy Office, and strengthening cybersecurity of the Government and public organizations;
• The Panel exchanged views with the Administration on strategies for promoting data sharing among government departments, as well as public and private organizations, to facilitate the digitalization of different sectors. Members suggested that the Administration should open up more government services through the “Cross-boundary Public Services” initiative and extend the facilitation measures of the “Standard Contract for the Cross-boundary Flow of Personal Information within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Mainland, Hong Kong)” to more sectors. These would help provide more convenient cross-boundary services for the general public and the business sector;
• The Panel continued to monitor the implementation of e-Government and digital business initiatives. Members requested the Administration to expedite the development of “Digital Corporate Identity” and enhance “iAM Smart”, with the aim of deploying practical features and increasing the utilization rates of these platforms;
• Regarding telecommunications, members expressed concern that some rural and remote areas still lacked full mobile network coverage, and that 5G network services were insufficient at certain public event venues during mega events or activities. Members urged the Administration to enhance 5G network coverage and capacity citywide. Furthermore, in light of the development of emerging technologies such as low-altitude economy and autonomous technology, members called on the Administration to provide support in areas including spectrum planning and mobile network infrastructure development; and
• The Panel was briefed on the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency’s efforts to promote the development of the cultural and creative industries, as well as the work of Hong Kong Design Centre. Members urged the Administration to actively assist the sector in accessing Mainland and overseas markets, including strengthening promotional efforts in Belt and Road countries and regions. Members also suggested that the Administration should enhance the financing arrangements of the Film Development Fund, provide more support for film and game productions featuring Hong Kong, and foster collaboration between international streaming platforms and the local film and television sectors.

[📄Report of the Panel]

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to labour, manpower planning, vocational training and education, and qualifications framework.

Major work

• The Panel followed up with the Administration on various measures to trawl for talents and alleviate manpower shortages. Members made a number of suggestions on further enhancing talent attraction. The Administration was urged to review the Talent List regularly to ensure that the talents admitted were those really in short supply;
• The Panel was briefed by the Administration on the key findings of the 2023 Manpower Projection. Members considered that the Administration should raise the overall labour force participation rate in Hong Kong and strengthen local training to cope with future labour shortages;
• The Panel received an update on Hong Kong’s occupational safety performance as well as the Administration’s strategies and measures to enhance occupational safety and health (“OSH”). Members urged the Administration to be more proactive in fostering an OSH culture in the construction industry, and step up efforts in motivating the industry to uplift site safety by making good use of innovative technologies and to adopt Design for Safety;
• The Panel discussed and supported the Administration’s legislative proposal to revise the “continuous contract” requirement, so as to enable more employees with shorter working hours to enjoy the full range of employment benefits under the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57);
• The Panel received the Administration’s briefing on the enhancements to the review mechanism of the Statutory Minimum Wage (“SMW”), including reviewing the SMW rate once a year and adopting a formula-based approach for implementing the review. While recognizing the efforts made by the Administration in enhancing the review mechanism of SMW, some members expressed concern about the calculation of the economic growth factor in the formula and the operating pressure that enterprises might face under the new review mechanism; and
• The Subcommittee on Issues Relating to Human Resources Training and Planning established under the Panel commenced work in this session.

[📄Report of the Panel]

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to the civil service and the staff of government-funded public bodies and other public service organizations.

Major work

• The Panel received updates on civil service establishment and strength, training and development for civil servants, as well as employment of non-civil service contract staff. Members made a number of suggestions on measures to attract, nurture and retain talents, as well as measures to increase and stabilize the manpower provision of lifeguards of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department;
• The Panel gave views on the family-friendly employment measures provided for government employees and supported the Government’s initiatives to enhance the medical and dental benefits of civil service eligible persons;
• The Panel discussed the civil service disciplinary mechanism and supported the Administration to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the mechanism from time to time on a need basis;
• The Panel received updates on the government staff mobilization under the enhanced mobilization protocol, measures to promote volunteer service in the civil service and publicize the good stories of civil servants, and the Civil Service Bureau’s work in promoting a clean civil service;
• The Panel exchanged views with the Administration on the publicity, training and implementation work on the updated Civil Service Code promulgated on 7 June 2024;
• The Panel received updates on the Civil Service Pay Level Survey and discussed the 2024-2025 civil service pay adjustment. Members urged the Administration to consider improving the civil service pay adjustment mechanism in the long run; and
• The Subcommittee to Follow Up Issues Relating to Benefits for Civil Servants, Retired Civil Servants and Eligible Persons established under the Panel completed its work in this session and submitted its report to the Panel in June 2024.

[📄Report of the Panel]

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to security, public order, public safety, corruption-related matters, and nationality and immigration matters.

Major work

• The Panel fully supported the enactment of a new Safeguarding National Security Ordinance to take forward the Basic Law Article 23 legislation and gave views on how to perfect the legislative proposals. Suggestions were separately made on how to enhance the proposed regulatory regime to protect the security of the computer systems of Hong Kong’s critical infrastructures to guard against cyberattacks and other incidents;
• On the maintenance of a safe community, the Panel called on the Administration to step up its counter-terrorism preparedness; enhance its capabilities in preventing and combating deception as well as youth crime; and encourage wider use of the Sexual Conviction Record Check Scheme in tandem with the phased expansion of the coverage of the scheme. On drug abuse, the Administration was urged to better target its anti-drug efforts at young people and bring etomidate, the main ingredient of the new harmful substance commonly known as “space oil”, under control as a dangerous drug;
• The Panel gave views on the implementation of the Greater Bay Area Emergency Response Operational Plan to enhance the effectiveness of cross-boundary rescue, as well as how greater use of new technology, in particular artificial intelligence, could enhance the efficiency of local firefighting and rescue operations and policing work. On the latter, the Panel was supportive of the financial proposals to develop the Centralised Digital Image Platform and the Third Generation Personnel Information Communal System for the Hong Kong Police Force;
• To give full play to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s role as a bridge between our country and the rest of the world, the Panel supported the staffing proposal to enable the Customs and Excise Department to discharge its responsibilities as World Customs Organization Vice Chairperson for the Asia/Pacific Region from 2024 to 2026; and the work of the Independent Commission Against Corruption to build a graft-free network by establishing the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption and engaging with the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities, of which the Commissioner served as the Chairman;
• The Panel made suggestions to the Administration on further promoting two-way flow of talents within the Greater Bay Area. It requested the Administration to enhance the clearance capacity and efficiency of Hong Kong’s land boundary control points, and ride on the opportunity of the launch of the facial recognition pilot scheme for the Chung Ying Street Frontier Closed Area to explore the possibilities of the opening-up of the Chung Ying Street for tourism development; and
• The Panel called on the Administration to further enhance its work in the handling of non-refoulement claims. It supported the staffing proposal to enable the Immigration Department to provide continued and dedicated directorate support for the related work. The Panel also gave views on enhancing the Department’s work in assisting Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong.

[📄Report of the Panel]

Local visits

Visit to Anti-Deception Coordination Centre and Anti-Deception Alliance of the Hong Kong Police Force

On 23 April 2024, the Panel visited the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre and the Anti-Deception Alliance of the Hong Kong Police Force to learn more about its latest measures and initiatives to combat deception cases.

Visit to observe the Inter-departmental Counter-terrorism Exercise

On 24 June 2024, the Panel observed the Inter-departmental Counter-terrorism Exercise, codenamed Arbalest, at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to learn more about the counter-terrorism response capabilities of the Security Bureau and its disciplined services.

Visit to Immigration Headquarters

On 2 December 2024, the Panel visited the Immigration Headquarters to gain a better understanding of the new headquarters’ facilities and operation after its commissioning in June this year.

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to transport matters (including those on railways).

Major work

• The Panel was consulted on the tolling scenarios and takeover arrangements for Tai Lam Tunnel upon the Government’s takeover on 31 May 2025. While supporting the proposed implementation of time-varying tolls, the Panel passed a motion calling on the Government to drastically reduce tolls or even consider waiving the toll during off-peak hours to achieve maximum traffic diversion effect and alleviate pressure on Tuen Mun Road;
• The Panel was consulted on the fare increase applications from the taxi trade and three franchised bus operators, as well as the MTR fare adjustment for 2024. Members criticized that these fare increase proposals were excessively high and beyond public affordability. Suggestions were made on how to alleviate fare increase pressure, enhance service provision and promote healthy development of the respective trades;
• The Panel was briefed on the preliminary findings of the study on regulating online hailed car services and enhancing existing legislation to more effectively combat illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward. Members considered that online hailed car services was an inevitable trend, and suggested that the Administration facilitate healthy development of the industry when imposing regulations;
• The Panel was consulted on the legislative proposals to mandate the installation of camera systems in taxi compartments and the provision of electronic payment means by all taxi drivers. Members welcomed leveraging the use of technology to enhance taxi services, and reminded the Administration of the need to properly address issues of passenger privacy, records management and data ownership;
• The Panel was consulted on a number of funding proposals, including upgrading part of the Northern Metropolis Highway project to Category A, enhancing the Vehicles and Drivers Licensing Integrated Data System of the Transport Department, as well as the Universal Accessibility Programme; and
• The Subcommittee on Matters Relating to Railways established under the Panel continued its work in this session.

[📄Report of the Panel]

Local visits

Visit to MTR Airport Express Hong Kong Station

On 27 February 2024, the Panel visited MTR Airport Express Hong Kong Station to learn about the latest facilities of in-town check-in and self baggage drop-off service.

Visit to Station Rail Voyage exhibition at MTR Hung Hom Station

On 24 April 2024, the Panel visited the Station Rail Voyage exhibition at MTR Hung Hom Station to learn more about the development of Hong Kong’s railway service.

Visit to the demonstration of eTraffic Ticket Platform

On 24 June 2024, the Panel visited the Police Headquarters to observe the demonstration of functions of eTraffic Ticket Platform to learn more about the new measures and workflow in serving fixed penalty notices and demand notices by electronic means.

Joint visit to MTR Kai Tak Station

On 19 November 2024, the Panel conducted a joint visit with the Subcommittee on Policy Issues Relating to Strengthening and Promoting the Development of Kowloon East as the Second Central Business District to MTR Kai Tak Station to learn about crowd management measures implemented in the station during large-scale events at Kai Tak Sports Park.

Visit to observe camera systems in taxi compartments

On 13 December 2024, the Panel observed the camera systems in taxi compartments to learn about the Administration’s proposal to mandate the installation of camera systems and related devices in all taxi compartments and the provision of electronic payment means by all taxi drivers.

Visit to construction site of MTR Kwu Tung Station

On 26 November 2024, the Subcommittee on Matters Relating to Railways visited the construction site of MTR Kwu Tung Station on East Rail Line to learn about the latest progress of the project.

Visit to Data Studio and Ho Tung Lau Depot of MTR Corporation Limited

On 10 December 2024, the Subcommittee on Matters Relating to Railways visited the Data Studio and Ho Tung Lau Depot of the MTR Corporation Limited (“MTRCL”) at Fo Tan to learn about the latest situation of MTRCL’s application of innovation and technology and the promotion of “Smart Railway”.

Visit outside Hong Kong

Visit to Yangtze River Delta Region

From 10 to 13 September 2024, the Panel conducted a duty visit to Yangtze River Delta Region (Shanghai and Hangzhou) to gain first-hand information about the development of autonomous vehicles and vehicle-‍to-‍everything technology, application of smart traffic management, and promotion of new energy transport industry and green transformation of public land transport.

[📄Report of the visit]

The Panel monitors and examines government policies and issues of public concern relating to welfare, rehabilitation services, poverty and social enterprise.

Major work

• The Panel gave views on the Administration’s measures to facilitate ageing in place and cross-boundary residential care services for the elderly. Discussions included the promotion and application of gerontechnology, community care services, enhancements to the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong, and the Pilot Scheme for Elderly Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (“CSSA”) Recipients to Reside in Residential Care Homes (“RCHs”) in Guangdong. The Panel was also briefed on measures to improve the quality of services in RCHs, including a special scheme to import care workers and drug management initiatives;
• The Panel was briefed on the progress of the work of the Commission on Poverty and the Administration’s targeted poverty alleviation projects for the three target groups, namely households in subdivided units, single-parent households and elderly households;
• The Panel gave views on the Administration’s measures to enhance support for the underprivileged, including working family allowance for low-income working households; employment support for unemployed able-bodied CSSA recipients; child care services for working parents; support for persons with disabilities, those in mental recovery, and their carers; and mental health policy and relevant measures in Hong ‍Kong;
• The Panel reviewed the Administration’s proposal to amend the Social Workers Registration Ordinance (Cap. 505) for the improved governance of the Social Workers Registration Board, and received a progress update on the Children Proceedings (Parental Responsibility) Bill, which aims to reform and consolidate the law relating to parental responsibilities and rights, and provide for the appointment and powers of guardians;
• The Panel received an update on the progress for welfare facilities projects funded by the Lotteries Fund, and the establishment of a dedicated fund to support the development of social welfare organizations;
• The Subcommittee on Issues Relating to Policy on Monitoring Child Protection Agencies, established under the Panel completed its work in this session and submitted its report to the Panel in June 2024; and
• The Subcommittee on Promoting Carer-centric Policies established under the Panel completed its work in this session and submitted its report to the Panel in May 2024.

[📄Report of the Panel]

Local visits

Visit to the call centre of Care-On-Call Service

On 8 February 2024, the Panel visited the call centre of Care-On-Call Service under Senior Citizen Home Safety Association to learn more about its services.

Visit to Community Living Room in Sham Shui Po

On 6 May 2024, the Panel visited the Community Living Room in Sham Shui Po to learn about its facilities, services and operation.

Visit to Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children and its Children’s Residential Home

On 19 November 2024, the Panel visited the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children and its Children’s Residential Home to learn about its latest situation following the completion of a reform project.