Legislative Council

LC Paper No. CB(3) 89/98-99


Ref :CB(3)/SC/Airport/98

Paper for the House Committee Meeting on 17 July 1998

Report of the Subcommittee to prepare for the setting up of the
Select Committee to inquire into matters relating to the
opening of the new airport at Chek Lap Kok

Purpose

This paper reports on the deliberations of the Subcommittee to prepare for the setting up of the Select Committee to inquire into matters relating to the opening of the new airport at Chek Lap Kok and invites the House Committee to endorse the Subcommittee's recommendations.

Background

2. At the House Committee meeting held on 10 July 1998, Members agreed that -

  1. a select committee be set up by a resolution in Council within July 1998 to inquire into matters relating to the opening of the new airport at Chek Lap Kok ;

  2. the select committee would not commence work for a period of not more than three months to allow time for the independent team appointed by the Chief Executive to complete its investigation and submit its report to the Chief Executive, when it would determine how to proceed with the inquiry ; and

  3. a subcommittee be formed to undertake preparatory work for the setting up of the select committee.

The Subcommittee

3. The Subcommittee comprises 24 Members, with Hon LAU Kong-wah and Hon Mrs Selina CHOW elected Chairman and Deputy Chairman respectively. The membership list of the Subcommittee is in Appendix 1.

Recommendations by the Subcommittee

4. The Subcommittee met on 16 July 1998 and its recommendations are detailed in paragraphs 5 to 8 below.

Draft resolution

5. The Subcommittee has agreed to propose to the House Committee for endorsement the wording of the resolution (Appendix 2) on the understanding that before the investigation report of the team appointed by the Chief Executive to investigate the operations of the new airport is available or before the lapse of the three-month period after the date when the resolution was passed by the Council, whichever is the earlier,

  1. the Select Committee will not exercise the statutory power conferred by section 9(1) of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance (Cap. 382) ; but

  2. the Select Committee may proceed with the following preparatory work which does not involve outside parties/persons:

    - collection of open information

    - convening meetings for internal discussions and keeping itself informed of relevant developments

    6. The Subcommittee proposes that the resolution be moved by its chairman at the Council meeting on 29 July 1998. Size of the Select Committee and the procedure for nominating its Chairman, Deputy Chairman and members

    7. In accordance with Rule 78(2) of the Rules of Procedure, the President shall decide the size of every select committee and shall appoint the chairman, deputy chairman and members thereof, taking into account the recommendations of the House Committee.

    8. The Subcommittee proposes that -

    1. the size of the Select Committee should be 13 ;

    2. nomination of Members to the Select Committee should be made orally at the House Committee meeting on Friday, 24 July 1998, assuming that the Select Committee will be established by resolution in the Council on 29 July 1998 ;

    3. after the nomination of Members to the Select Committee, the House Committee should adjourn for 10 minutes to enable the nominated Members to consider which of them should be nominated as Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Select Committee ;

    4. the House Committee will then resume and be asked to endorse the proposed composition of the Select Committee ; and

    5. after the passage of the resolution on 29 July 1998, the Chairman of the House Committee will make a recommendation to the President on the chairmanship, deputy chairmanship and membership of the Select Committee.

    Advice sought

    9. Members are invited to endorse the Subcommittee's recommendations in paragraphs 5 to 8 above.


    Legislative Council Secretariat
    16 July 1998


    附錄1
    Appendix 1


    籌備成立調查有關赤鱲角新機場啟用事宜專責委員會的
    小組委員會

    Subcommittee to prepare for the setting up of the
    Select Committee to inquire into matters relating to the
    opening of the new airport at Chek Lap Kok


    委員名單
    Membership List

    劉江華議員(主席)Hon LAU Kong-wah (Chairman)
    周梁淑怡議員(副主席)Hon Mrs Selina CHOW LIANG Shuk-yee, JP (Deputy Chairman)
    田北俊議員Hon James TIEN Pei-chun, JP
    朱幼麟議員Hon David CHU Yu-lin
    何秀蘭議員Hon Cyd HO Sau-lan
    何承天議員Hon Edward HO Sing-tin, JP
    何俊仁議員Hon Albert HO Chun-yan
    何鍾泰議員Dr Hon Raymond HO Chung-tai, JP
    李永達議員Hon LEE Wing-tat
    李家祥議員Hon Eric LI Ka-cheung, JP
    呂明華議員Dr Hon LUI Ming-wah, JP
    吳清輝議員Prof Hon NG Ching-fai
    馬逢國議員Hon MA Fung-kwok
    張永森議員Hon Ambrose CHEUNG Wing-sum, JP
    許長青議員Hon HUI Cheung-ching
    陸恭蕙議員Hon Christine LOH
    陳婉嫻議員Hon CHAN Yuen-han
    陳鑑林議員Hon CHAN Kam-lam
    黃容根議員Hon WONG Yung-kan
    詹培忠議員Hon CHIM Pui-chung
    劉慧卿議員Hon Emily LAU Wai-hing, JP
    蔡素玉議員Hon CHOY So-yuk
    鄭家富議員Hon Andrew CHENG Kar-foo
    霍震霆議員Hon Timothy FOK Tsun-ting, JP


    總數 : 24名委員
    Total : 24 members


    附錄2
    Appendix 2

    擬稿
    DRAFT

    就「委任專責委員會」提出的決議案
    決議案措辭

    「議決委任一個專責委員會調查赤鱲角新香港國際機場自1998年7月6日開始運作
    時所出現的問題的原委及有關事宜;委員會展開調查的日期,由委員會經考慮行
    政長官委派的調查新機場運作的小組所作出的調查報告後訂定,或為本會議決委
    任該委員會的日期起計三個月後(以較早者為準);而該委員會在執行其職務時獲
    授權根據《立法局(權力及特權)條例》(第382章)第9(2)條行使該條例第9(1)條
    所賦予的權力。」


    Resolution on "Appointment of Select Committee"
    Wording of resolution

    "Resolved that a select committee be appointed to inquire into the circumstances leading to the problems surrounding the commencement of the operation of the new Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok since 6 July 1998, and related issues, with the date for commencement of inquiry being either the date as determined by the committee after it has considered the investigation report of the team appointed by the Chief Executive to investigate the operations of the new airport, or upon the lapse of three months after the date when this resolution was passed by this Council, whichever is the earlier; and that in the performance of its duties the committee be authorised under section 9(2) of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance (Cap. 382) to exercise the powers conferred by section 9(1) of that Ordinance."