Dear friends,

In the next fifteen years, the government will be investing HK$600 billion in infrastructural works. These infrastructural works, I believe, will be beneficial to the economic development and the improvement of business environment in Hong Kong, but we should also abide by the principle of cost-effectiveness.

The proposed Route 10, which will link up with Shenzhen Western Corridor (SWC), involves an investment to the tune of HK$22 billion. However, the data provided by the government on this project was scanty, and government officials equivocated when questioned by the Legco and by the public.  It is inevitable, therefore, that the project will be rejected. In this issue, you will find some of the questions I raised and the suggestions I made when scrutinizing the proposal. I hope this will help you understand better the role which I, as your representative in Legco, seek to play and the stance I adopted in this matter.

Eric Li

	At the 2002 Annual Dinner and Prize Presentation Ceremony of the Hong Kong Association of Accounting Technicians.
As officiating guest at the 11th Graduation Ceremony of the Diploma in Accounting of the School of Professional and Continuing Education, University of Hong Kong.
	Delivering the opening speech at the Hong Kong Special Olympics ?the 26th Inter-cities Invitation Games.。
Picture taken after the Board of Directors?meeting of the Kowloon Motor Bus Holdings Limited.
	As member of the Viva Voce interview panel of the Association of International Accountants.
At the 25th Annual General Meeting of the Hong Kong PHAB Association.
	At the 2001 Charity Walk organized by the Hong Kong Society of Accountants.
As invited speaker at the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers.
	At the high table dinner of the Prospective Students Society of the Hong Kong Association of Accountants.

＊     What are the benefits of Route 10?

＊     Commitment at the Legislative Council

Joined as member of the following newly formed Bills Committees and Subcommittees (as at 25 March 2002):

＊  Bills Committee on Medical and Health Care Miscellaneous (Amendments) Bill 2001

＊  Bills Committee on Employees Compensation Assistance (Amendment) Bill 2002

＊  Bills Committee on Prevention of Child Pornography Bill

＊  Subcommittee on Solicitors (Professional Indemnity) (Amendment) Rules 2001

＊  Subcommittee on Occupational Safety and Health (Display Screen Equipment) Regulation (Meetings   Attended)

＊  Subcommittee on Matters Relating to the Implementation of Railway Development Projects (Meetings Attended)

＊  Subcommittee on Draft Subsidiary Legislation to be Made under the Securities and Futures Ordinance

＊  Questions Raised and Debates attended

＊  Construction costs of the railways
  (Oral question raised at the Legislative Council meeting on 9 January 2002)

＊  The provision of inter-network Short Message Services ("SMS") by mobile phone network
   operators ("operators")
  (Written question raised at the Legislative Council meeting on 12 December 2001)

＊  The use of forged identity documents to open bank accounts
  (Written question raised at the Legislative Council meeting on 19 December 2002

＊  Professional and consultancy services for infrastructural projects
  (Written question raised at the Legislative Council meeting on 16 January 2002)

＊  The Promotion of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area ("FTA")
  (Written question raised at the Legislative Council meeting on 23 January 2002)

＊  The feasibility of “electronic schoolbags?
  (Written question raised at the Legislative Council meeting on 30 January 2002)

＊  The total number of staff in all public-funded organizations and statutory bodies and the gross
  amounts of their salaries and personal emolument-related expenditure
  (Written question raised at the Legislative Council meeting on 6 February 2002)

＊  Selection of Cyberport tenants
  (Supplementary question raised at the Legislative Council meeting on 19 December 2001)

＊  Review of the pay adjustment mechanisms of statutory bodies and the Hong Kong Monetary
  Authority
  (Speech delivered at the Legislative Council debate on 12 December 2001)

＊  The second Chief Executive election
  (Speech delivered at the Legislative Council debate on 13 March 2002)

＊  Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2001
  (Speech delivered at the committee stage amendments to the Bill at the Legislative Council meeting on 19
   December 2001)

＊  Banking (Amendment) Bill 2001
  (Speech delivered at the resumption of the second reading debate at the Legislative Council meeting on 19
   December 2001)

＊  Securities & Futures Bill
  (Speech delivered at the resumption of the second reading debate at the Legislative Council meeting on 13
  March 2002)

＊  Public Accounts Committee Report No. 37
  (Speech delivered as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of the government at the Legislative
   Council meeting on 6 February 2002)

＊  Worries about Hongkong Post’s monopoly of digital certificates  Market should open up to
      promote e-commerce
      (Speech delivered at the Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting and Panel on Security of the
      Legislative Council on 20 December 2001)

＊   Government urged to offer incentives to private sector to undertake in tourism projects

＊    Advice for Action

Predictions about the Budget

＊   Budget deficit not a crying wolf scenario

＊   Rates reduction

＊   Civil service pay cut

＊   Enhanced Productivity Programme

＊   Freeze the number of directorate post

＊   More new taxes

＊   Boundary Facilities Improvement Tax

＊   Against increase in profits tax

＊   Introducing new taxes and providing tax concession at the same time

＊   Different modes of sales tax to choose from

＊   Sales tax as the last resort

＊   The small gain in tax would create a negative impression

＊   Increasing Betting Duty

＊   New taxes should be imposed in the long run

＊   Abolish estate duty to attract immigrants

＊    Activities

＊   Attended the launching ceremony of the Hong Kong Paralympians Fund

＊   Invited to serve as Steering Committee Member of the China Accounting and Finance Research
   Centre, Hong Kong Polytechnic University

＊   Acknowledged by the Director of Education for his speech

＊   Served as Advisory Committee Member of a private independent primary and secondary school
   established by the Shanghai Victoria Education Foundation

＊   Appointed as Honorary Adviser of the Hong Kong Eastern District Community Association

＊   Served as Voluntary Auditor for Friends of the Country Parks.

＊   Top officials of the Department of Transport viewed the Hon. Eric Li’s Letter to Hong Kong

＊   A witness to the joint efforts of the Hong Kong Society of Accountants and the Environmental
   Protection Department to organize green activities

＊   Assistance provided for the production of video on the Qualification Programme

＊   News Digest

＊   Business sector welcomes Antony Leung’s speech

＊   Return of 17 lots of land to government applauded  Change in Home Ownership policy called for

＊   Current mechanism of the Independent Police Complaints Council is effective

＊   Granting of statutory power to IPCC welcomed

＊   Treat everyone equally in road digging charges and penalty charges

＊   Is it beyond the liability of the government if the sum of claims exceeds the amount covered in
   the insurance against terrorist attack?

＊   Eric Li’s “get rich first?theory borrowed from Mr Deng

＊   Airport Authority should not compete with commercial sector for profits while expanding its
   scope of business

＊   Revising the definition of “manager?in Banking Ordinance likely to affect operation of banks

＊   Not fair to make bank managers subject to criminal liability when penalty has yet to be worked
   out

＊   General direction of amendments to Banking Ordinance supported except for broadening of
   definition of manager

＊   Effect of joint efforts of the eight parties more symbolic than real

＊   Eric Li: A proactive government can smooth the way for professionals to enter the mainland
   market

＊   Professionals guaranteed to gain admission to the German Parliament

＊   Tremendous increase in usage of inter-network Short Message Services

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