I. Committees and Panels Joined
1.Public
Accounts Committee - elected Chairman:
Standing committee with 7 members appointed by the
President of Legco with very wide powers of summon.
Main task is to scrutinise the reports of the Director
of Audit on the Government's accounts and value for
money studies.
2.Financial Affairs Panel - elected Deputy Chairman:
This Panel scrutinizes most policy areas covered by
the Financial Secretary including those of the Secretary
for Financial Services, Secretary of Treasury, Monetary
Authority, Stock Exchange, Securities & Futures
Commission, Insurance Commission, Companies Registry
etc. In short, most government bodies that HKSA is likely
to come into direct contact with.
To date, the panel had already held four meetings (agenda
attached) and was briefed by various government bodies
on their works.
3.Administration of Justice and Legal Services Panel:
This panel scrutinizes all policy areas covering the
administration of the entire judiciary system, the Attorney
General's chamber and services delivered by lawyers
and barristers.
4.Welfare Services Panel:
5.Subcommittee on matters Relating to the Formation
of Parliamentary Friendship Groups:
This group maintains contact with other parliaments
nd the diplomatic corps stationed in Hong Kong.
6.Finance Committee and House Committee:
All Legco members are automatic member of these two
committees. The Finance Committee has two sub-committee
ie. Public Works and Staff Establishment. I have chosen
to join the Public Works Sub-committee.
II. Bills Committees Joined
1.Prevention of Bribery (miscellaneous Provisions)
(No. 2) Bill 1995:
This Amendment Bill basically implements numerous recommendations
from a comprehensive review of the original Bill passed
some 20 years ago. HKSA has little to say when consulted
over a year ago. One main proposed change is to empower
ICAC to obtain IRD records subject to Court sanction
on reasonable grounds. Some tax practitioners have raised
objection to me as this is seen to weaken the confidentiality
of tax records and amounts to legislating through the
"back door". Dialogue with administration
continues.
2.Subcommittee to study the Leveraged Foreign Exchange
Trading (Calls) Rules:
Rules mainly on regulations of forex traders.
3.Medical Registration (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 1995:
Comprehensive Review of the way the medical profession
is being run. Main controversy is on the accreditation
of 'experts'. The proposed formula is for the Academy
of Medicine to accreditate but the Medical Council with
lay members, officials appointed by the Government to
retain ultimate say.
4.Rehabilitation of Offenders (Amendment) Bill 1995
III. Motion Debates
List attached, Labour and Welfare issues dominate as
usual. These debates simply provide forum for members
to air personal views and by a Council vote, indicate
a preference (support, reject or show dismay as the
case may be) of Legco on policy matters and political
issues of the day.
In the last two months, there was a series of debates
on the freezing of government fees and charge. I have
consistently opposed to the freeze as proposed by all
the main political parties on ground of no real economic
impact on inflation and stimulating economic activities
as suggested and that the act will completely debase
important principles of financial management of the
government ie. maintain the real value of the most stable
source of revenue income and uphold the user-pay principle
on fees and charges of non welfare related public services
delivered to primarily commercial users.
IV. Questions
I have so far asked 2 oral questions and 2 written
questions. More is in the queue. These questions are
attached for reference. The two taxation questions raised
would give good background information for the upcoming
Debate on the 1996 Budget. It showed that salary taxes
in Hong Kong are paid by few and are already very progressive.
V. General Political Background
So far, labour issues dominate the Legco scene whilst
the works of the Preparatory Committee (PC) is looming
large in the general political background. It is envisaged
that PC members will be appointed in a week's time and
will galvanize the attention of the media, senior civil
servants, main political parties and politicians alike.
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