4 papers to be laid on the Table of the Council set out in Appendix 1

Members to ask 22 questions (6 for oral replies and 16 for written replies)

Contents of 22 questions, Members to ask such questions and public officers to reply set out in Appendix 2

(Standing over from the meeting of 10 July 2019)

(Debate and voting arrangements set out in LC Paper Nos. CB(3) 760/18-19 and CB(3) 55/19-20 issued on 27 June and 21 October 2019)

(Standing over from the meeting of 13 November 2019)

Pilotage (Dues) (Amendment) Order 2019 (L.N. 146/2019)

Pilotage Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Notice 2019 (L.N. 147/2019)

(Debate and voting arrangements set out in LC Paper No. CB(3) 139/19-20 issued on 19 November 2019)

(Standing over from the meeting of 10 July 2019)

(Standing over from the meeting of 23 October 2019)

(Standing over from the meeting of 30 October 2019)

(Standing over from the meeting of 6 November 2019)

(Standing over from the meeting of 12 June 2019)

(Standing over from the meeting of 10 July 2019)

(Debate and voting arrangements set out in LC Paper No. CB(3) 771/18-19 issued on 27 June 2019)

(Standing over from the meeting of 23 October 2019)

(Standing over from the meeting of 13 November 2019)

(Standing over from the meeting of 3 July 2019)

(Debate and voting arrangements set out in LC Paper No. CB(3) 723/18-19 issued on 19 June 2019)

(Standing over from the meeting of 23 October 2019)

(Standing over from the meeting of 30 October 2019)

(Standing over from the meeting of 13 November 2019)

(Standing over from the meeting of 12 June 2019)

(Standing over from the meeting of 12 June 2019)

Hon HUI Chi-fung to ask:

The movement of opposition to the proposed legislative amendments ("the movement") has not subsided since its eruption in June this year. It has been reported that as revealed by the findings of a number of public opinion surveys, more than 70% of members of the public support the appointment of a commission of inquiry by the Government under the Commissions of Inquiry Ordinance to inquire into issues relating to the movement. However, the Government has all along merely indicated that the matters relating to the various large-scale public events and the operations conducted by the Police have been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Council ("IPCC") for examination, and that IPCC would submit a report together with improvement recommendations. As all members of IPCC are appointed by the Chief Executive, some members of the public consider that IPCC has a pro-government stance and they have little confidence in the independence of IPCC's work. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Dr Hon Helena WONG to ask:

Since the eruption of the "anti-extradition to China" movement in June this year, the Police have fired thousands of tear gas rounds, used tear spray and sprayed coloured water from water cannon vehicles in densely-populated areas to disperse demonstrators. Some research findings have shown that persons who have inhaled tear gas will develop temporary symptoms such as tearing, coughing, runny nose and vomiting, and they may feel discomfort in their respiratory tracts or lungs for a period of as long as two weeks. Persons who have been hit by tear spray or coloured water will experience burning sensation of skin or temporary loss of sight. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Hon Kenneth LEUNG to ask:

Since the eruption of the disturbances arising from the opposition to the proposed legislative amendments in June this year, the Police have repeatedly fired tear gas rounds in densely populated areas or even indoor areas. It is learnt that the crystalline particles of the various types of compounds in tear gas, which are non-volatile, will settle downward and may be carried away by the wind and adhere to objects, including textile fibres and the air circulation systems of buildings, posing a threat to public health in the long term. Furthermore, the results of some experiments conducted overseas have shown that groups which have been exposed to tear gas may have a higher risk of developing chronic respiratory problems in future, such as morning cough, production of thick sputum, chest pain, damages to lung tissue and breathing difficulty. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Hon Gary FAN to ask:

It has been reported that during a number of public meetings and processions relating to the "anti-extradition to China" movement held since 9 June this year, some police officers, without producing search warrants and without obtaining the consent of or giving an explanation to the occupiers of the premises concerned, intruded into shopping malls and private housing estates for law enforcement. During such operations, the police officers used various types of force and weapons, causing panic and injuries to quite a number of shopping mall customers and residents. In some cases, the police officers concerned were not in uniforms with police identification numbers and did not wear warrant cards, making it difficult for members of the public to verify their identity. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Hon Tony TSE to ask:

In this year's Policy Address, the Government put forward a plan to increase the number of transitional housing projects substantially to provide a total of 10 000 transitional housing units within the coming three years, and indicated that it had earmarked $5 billion for meeting the costs. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Hon Christopher CHEUNG to ask:

Earlier on, the House of Representatives of the United States ("US") Congress passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act ("the Act"). The Act, if passed by the Senate and signed by the President, will become a law. Some members of the business sector are worried that the Act, once implemented, will inevitably affect the exchanges between Hong Kong and the US, make the US Government review the special treatment granted to Hong Kong, and destabilize Hong Kong's external trade relations and its status as an international financial centre. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Hon Tanya CHAN to ask:

After the Government's reduction of the concessions on the first registration tax for electric private cars ("e-PCs") on 1 April 2017, there was a significant drop in the number of first registered e-PCs. On 28 February 2018, the Government introduced a "One-for-One Replacement" Scheme ("Replacement Scheme") whereby a vehicle owner who scraps his old private car ("PC") that meets the eligibility criteria and buys a new e-PC may enjoy a higher tax concession. On 28 January this year, the Government relaxed the eligibility criteria for the Replacement Scheme. On promoting the use of electric vehicles ("EVs"), will the Government inform this Council:

Hon Andrew WAN to ask:

It has been reported that on the afternoon of 28 October this year, a number of members of the public smelled a pungent odour akin to the smell of tear gas in the vicinity of Leung King Estate of Tuen Mun, and the odour subsequently spread to the vicinity of Tuen Mun Town Centre and the pier. A number of persons were unwell and made assistance calls for emergency ambulance service. Later on that day, the Police posted on a social media a message stating that the Police and fire personnel, after conducting inspections, could not ascertain the cause and origin of the odour. The Police also clarified that they had not used tear gas nor, as circulated on the Internet, conducted testing of any unknown gas, in Tuen Mun that day. Suspecting that the odour was associated with Police operations, some residents gathered outside Tai Hing Operational Base that night, and the rally eventually developed into confrontations between the Police and members of the public. The Police fired multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse the crowd, with some of the rounds landing on the podium or corridor of some private housing courts. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Hon IP Kin-yuen to ask:

Regarding the demand and supply situation of speech therapists, will the Government inform this Council:

Dr Hon CHIANG Lai-wan to ask:

It has been reported that as indicated by the findings of a medical research, one in three women and one in five men who are over 50 years old will suffer from a osteoporotic fracture at some point in their lives. In addition, there are about 10 000 new cases of hip fracture each year in Hong Kong and, among such cases, one-fifth of the patients pass away within one year, about half of them sustain permanent impairment of mobility, and about half of them need to be admitted to residential care homes. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Hon WU Chi-wai to ask:

The Coroners Ordinance (Cap. 504) specifies 20 categories of deaths which are reportable to the coroner. Having considered the relevant information such as the investigation reports prepared by the Police on such cases and the post mortem reports, the coroner may decide whether there is sufficient information such that the cause and the circumstances of the death are clear and with no suspicion and whether the case can be concluded, or the coroner may decide to order the Police to carry out further investigation or seek independent opinions from experts. Having considered all the requisite information and all the circumstances of the case, the coroner may decide whether to conclude the case or hold an inquest into the death. If a person dies while in official custody, the coroner must hold an inquest into that case of death. In addition, properly interested persons (including family members of the deceased) and the Secretary for Justice may apply to the Court of First Instance for an inquest into the death to be held by a coroner. It has been reported that the number of suspected suicide cases surged in recent months, and in respect of a number of dead body found cases, the Police announced after investigation at the scene that the cases were initially classified as suicides or as cases with no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. However, some members of the public have queried that the process for the Police's investigation into these cases and drawing their conclusions is sloppy. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of the following details regarding the dead body found cases handled by the Police in the past 24 months:

Hon Holden CHOW to ask:

Since June this year, the controversies arising from the proposals to amend the law concerning surrender of fugitive offenders have eventually turned into social disturbances. Radical demonstrators have wantonly vandalized buildings and public facilities, with quite a number of shops being "renovated" (the code word for "vandalized"), and persons with different views being "doxxed" and "settled privately" (the code words for "subject to vigilante attacks"). Such acts have seriously affected the business environment, operation of society and the daily living of members of the public. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Dr Hon Priscilla LEUNG to ask:

Under section 104A of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), no bill or poster shall be displayed or affixed on any Government land, except with the written permission of the Authority. Some members of the public have relayed that since June this year, a large quantities of leaflets, posters, sticky notes, etc. have been affixed, for expression of various views, without permission at public places (e.g. footbridges, pedestrian subways and perimeter fences) in many districts. Such affixed items have not only caused environmental hygiene problems but also led to clashes among members of the public with different political views. However, the government departments concerned have not actively addressed the problem, making such members of the public feel very dissatisfied. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Hon Steven HO to ask:

African Swine Fever ("ASF") broke out on the Mainland in August last year and quickly swept through most parts of the Mainland. Fortunately, it has not spread to the pig farms in Hong Kong. Due to the epidemic, quite a number of registered pig farms on the Mainland for supply to Hong Kong ("registered pig farms") have ceased to supply live pigs to Hong Kong, resulting in a substantial decrease in the daily number of live pigs imported from the Mainland from 4 000 heads in the past to below 1 700 heads at present. The wholesale and retail prices of pork have consequently surged and, as a result, the relevant trades and members of the public have been greatly affected. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Hon Jeremy TAM to ask:

It has been reported that a number of suspected suicide cases and dead body found cases may be associated with the disturbances arising from opposition to the proposed legislative amendments. Regarding the unnatural death cases (including suicide and murder cases) and dead body found cases handled by the Police since June this year, will the Government inform this Council:

Hon Jimmy NG to ask:

The Government has extended the Food Truck Pilot Scheme, which was launched in February 2017, by two years to 2 February 2021. Under the licensing conditions, the 15 food trucks may operate only at (i) designated operating locations on a rotation basis or (ii) venues of self-identified events that meet specific conditions (i.e. being open to the public, having publicity plans and appropriate licences for which having been obtained). It has been reported that the number of tourists and local residents visiting various operating locations has been dropping continuously since the eruption of the disturbances arising from the opposition to the proposed legislative amendments. To reduce their losses, operators of food trucks designated to operate at locations with low people flow have opted not to do business instead. In the past few weeks, among the 11 operating locations, there were only four locations, at the most, in a week the food trucks at which were open for business, and some of the food trucks were open for business from Friday to Sunday only. Some food truck operators have criticized that as the authorities do not understand the operating difficulties of food trucks and ignore the aspirations of the operators, it is difficult for their food truck business to sustain. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Hon Elizabeth QUAT to ask:

Under the prevailing policy, where non-refoulement claimants ("claimants") who are to be repatriated have lodged applications for judicial review ("JR") in relation to the results of their claims, the Immigration Department ("ImmD") will temporarily suspend the actions of sending them back to their places of origin. The number of applications for leave for JR in relation to the results of such claims received by the Court of First Instance surged from 1 006 in 2017 to 2 851 in 2018. To reduce abuse of the procedure for handling claims, the authorities indicated in January this year that they were considering amending the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115). Moreover, the authorities proposed in June this year to amend the High Court Ordinance (Cap. 4) to facilitate the handling of cases, including claims-related JR applications, in a more efficient manner. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Hon Charles Peter MOK to ask:

The Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 7) Ordinance 2018 came into operation on 2 November 2018. The expenditure s incurred by enterprises on research and development ("R&D") activities conducted on 1 April 2018 or thereafter are classified into Type A and Type B. Type A expenditures are qualified for the current 100% tax deduction. For Type B expenditures, the deduction is 300% for the first $2 million and 200% for the remaining amount. "Qualifying R&D activities" are classified into out-sourced and in-house R&D activities. The amounts of (i) payments made to "designated local research institutions" ("DLRIs") in respect of the former and (ii) "qualifying expenditures" (i.e. expenditures in relation to employees and consumable items) paid in respect of the latter by enterprises are Type B expenditures, which are qualified for the aforesaid tax deduction at a higher percentage. R&D service providers are required to apply to the Innovation and Technology Commission for designation as DLRIs. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Hon CHAN Hoi-yan to ask:

Regarding the development of underground space, will the Government inform this Council:

Hon Paul TSE to ask:

Some residents have complained that traffic congestion frequently occurs in the vicinity of Caroline Hill Road, Ventris Road, Link Road and Leighton Road in Happy Valley and Causeway Bay, particularly during evening commuting hours on weekdays and at noon on weekends. During peak hours, the tailback even reaches Broadwood Road, thus paralyzing the traffic to and from the Broadwood district, Jardine's Lookout and Tai Hang. During the time when matches are held in the Hong Kong Stadium, vehicles can hardly move in the areas concerned. In addition, driving test candidates learning driving and taking road tests in these areas are also major causes for the traffic congestion. On the other hand, the Government is planning to use the site of the ex-Electrical and Mechanical Services Department Headquarters and the adjacent sites on Caroline Hill Road for the construction of a new district court and for commercial purposes, including the provision of as many as 600 car parking spaces. Some residents are worried that the development project, once implemented, will inevitably aggravate the traffic congestion in the areas concerned. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Dr Hon Pierre CHAN to ask:

Regarding the situation of staff members of the Hospital Authority ("HA") and the Department of Health ("DH") participating in the Course on National Affairs for Hong Kong Professionals ("the Course") and other exchange activities on the Mainland, will the Government inform this Council:

Hon HO Kai-ming to ask:

The Government launched in July last year an initiative of extending the service of civil servants. Those civil servants who joined the Government between 1 June 2000 and 31 May 2015 are given two years (i.e. from 17 September 2018 to 16 September 2020) to decide whether or not to apply for raising their retirement age. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: