2. In conclusion, the Chairman said that Members could meet the Director of Health in future if there were other special issues to discuss.

Transcription

1 Summary of the 11th Meeting of the Third Term Sham Shui Po District Council held on 1 September 2009 A. Director of Health Meets with Members of the Sham Shui Po District Council (SSPDC) Director of Health Dr LAM Ping-yan briefed Members on the Department of Health (DH) s work, in particular the prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCD), and replied in response to Members enquiries: (a) The Government would balance the views of parents and the community in making decisions, including class suspension, according to the severity of the Human Swine Influenza (HSI). In the mitigation phase, the Government strived to lower the spread and severity of the pandemic as well as its impact on health facilities and healthcare personnel. Holiday villages had been reserved as quarantine sites during the winter influenza season; (b) The Government had earmarked funds for HSI vaccines which would be provided for use once their efficacy, quality and safety were confirmed. Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination programmes would also be implemented for children and the elderly to lower their complication and mortality rate if infected; (c) A Strategic Framework for Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases was launched by the Food and Health Bureau, and a steering committee chaired by the Secretary for Food and Health was formed to draw up objectives and action plans to create an environment conducive to healthy living. DH had implemented activities in collaboration with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD); (d) Publicity and education were very important in tobacco control. Tobacco control officers posts were converted into civil service establishment to enhance their level of enforcement. A fixed penalty of $1,500 for smoking in no-smoking areas was implemented starting September DH also took forward a 3-year pilot scheme which included smoking cessation service, research and publicity, as well as counselling skills training for healthcare personnel; 1

2 (e) Although the number of heroin abusers in Hong Kong had been decreasing, it remained to be the highest among all drugs, so it was necessary to retain methadone clinics. As methadone users attending the methadone clinic in Sham Shui Po were all residents in the district, it would be difficult to arrange them to take methadone in other districts; (f) To enhance the prevention of mental illness, the Government planned to implement a mental health programme to train family doctors and psychiatrists to teach the public to face the pressure from family and the society. 2. In conclusion, the Chairman said that Members could meet the Director of Health in future if there were other special issues to discuss. B. Hon IP Kwok-him Meets with Members of the Sham Shui Po District Council 3. Hon IP Kwok-him briefed Members on the work of the Legislative Council (LegCo) and responded to Members enquiries: (a) LegCo attached high importance to the views of District Councils (DCs) and regular meetings had been held to exchange views with DC Members. LegCo was following up on the condition of service of DC Members including gratuity, medical allowance and Miscellaneous Expenses Allowance. He believed that with such improvements, more talents would be attracted to join DCs; (b) He agreed that the manpower of DC Secretariats should be enhanced; however, it would be unfeasible for them to be independent from the Home Affairs Department (HAD). With relatively less promotion opportunities, DC Secretariats might not be able to attract incumbent officers to leave the civil service to join them; (c) As regards the function of DCs, it was worth consideration for DCs to take part in some management work of FEHD and the promotion of community cultural policy. 4. In response to Members views, the Chairman said that detailed vetting had to be done by HAD on applications for Operating Expenses Allowance and DC fund as they involved the use of public money. The Chairman also highlighted the following matters raised by Members: (a) study visits outside Hong Kong; (b) provision of a 2

3 large-scale performance venue in the district; (c) constructing a market in the new reclamation area; (d) inadequate manpower and space of SSPDC Secretariat. 5. The Chairman thanked Hon IP Kwok-him for attending the meeting and hoped that he would reflect Members views to the authorities concerned. C. Review of Sham Shui Po District Annual Policing Plan 2009 (SSPDC Paper 135/09) 6. District Commander (Sham Shui Po) Mrs Pauline NG TSUI briefed Members on crime figures in the district for the first half year of In response to Members enquiries, she said that: (a) The significant increase of thefts from vehicles was due to the fact that the prices of scrap metal was not as valuable as before. A task force or plain-clothes officers had been deployed to patrol black spots at night. Notices and posters were also posted in potential black spots to alert vehicles owners; (b) There was not a substantial increase in the number prostitutes arrested, the rise in the percentage was due to a relatively small base number the year before, and that more prostitutes arrested were not holders of a Hong Kong Identity Card; (c) The rise in drug-related cases was due to a change in the strategy of drug enforcement, a continue rise in such cases was expected in the second half of As for large-scale drug trafficking cases, the Police might need longer time to prepare for an arrest. 7. The Chairman thanked Mrs Pauline NG TSUI, who was about to be transferred out, for her great efforts in combating crime during her tenure and wished her all the best in her new post. D. Proposed residential development and infrastructure works at the former temporary housing area and the land to the east in Lung Ping Road (Nos. LS-SSP-0013 and LS-SSP-0012) (SSPDC Paper 136/09) 3

4 8. The representative from the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) said in response to Members enquiries that: (a) CEDD would study with the Transport Department on not allowing heavy vehicles to enter Lung Ping Road; (b) The machinery currently in use was in compliance with the environmental protection legislation. CEDD would spray water at the site to eliminate the dust generated; (c) CEDD would attend residents meeting; (d) The departments concerned had reached a consensus that the site would change into a low-density residential development. 9. The Council supported the proposal in general. The Chairman requested CEDD s representative to arrange for a site visit with interested Members after the meeting, and to report the progress to the Council after the works commenced. E. Public consultation on review of Air Quality Objectives (SSPDC Paper 137/09) 10. Members put forth various views and enquiries on the consultation document. Permanent Secretary for the Environment / Director of Environmental Protection Ms Anissa WONG Sean-yee thanked Members for their concern and support in improving air quality through appropriate regulatory measures, and their agreement in principle for updating air quality objectives through practical, feasible and forward-looking measures. She further said in response that: (a) The government had been tightening the emission ceiling of power plants in order to achieve the regional 2010 emission reduction targets agreed by the Governments of Hong Kong and Guangdong Province; significant improvements had been achieved over the past few years; (b) As regards renewable energy in electricity generation, the proposal to use more natural gas involved additional facilities and would lead to adjustment in electricity charges. As for wind energy and hydraulic power, there were great limitations; while technology in solar energy gradually matured though not yet cost effective. Both CLP Power Hong Kong Limited and Hong Kong Electric Company Limited intended to explore the setting up of wind farms for electricity generation, and 4

5 environmental impact assessments were underway. Under the Profit Control Scheme, there would be higher return for using renewable energy in electricity generation; (c) Electric cars had been on trial use among government departments and would be introduced for commercial use when the technology is mature. The Government would take a close watch on its development and promote its use in Hong Kong; (d) As regards regional cooperation, the Governments of Hong Kong and Guangdong Province had drawn up regional 2010 emission reduction targets in 2002, and would explore the targets after The Secretary for Environment had been maintaining close ties and holding regular meetings with the Environment Bureau of Guangdong Province in environmental improvement and cooperation; (e) In Hong Kong, air pollutant emissions had significantly decreased but visibility was lower than that in early 1990s, as conditions in Hong Kong were affected by various factors including local and regional emissions; (f) The Government would reserve areas of ecological and conservation values as green belts, conservation areas and country parks. Public facilities and schools also adopted rooftop and vertical greening; greening elements would be included as far as possible; (g) A major principle of environmental protection was polluters pay. All sectors should contribute to the improvement of air quality, and the Government would introduce subsidy scheme when necessary; (h) To tackle problems of buildings with wall effects, it was stipulated that air ventilation assessment had to be done on large-scale development. The Sustainable Development Committee was conducting public consultation on sustainable construction to collect views for further promoting related work; (i) Less contentious measures put forward in the consultation document had been implemented, while more contentious measures would be adopted after public consultation and detailed implementation plans were drawn up. 11. The Chairman concluded that the updated air quality objectives were conducive to public health. He hoped the Environment Bureau would deliberate Members requests and fulfil the needs of the public as far as possible. 5

6 F. District Aspirations Study on Urban Renewal (SSPDC Paper 138/09) 12. The representative from the Development Bureau (DEVB) Ms Winnie SO Chui-ying briefed Members on the background and proposed areas of the District Aspirations Study. The representative from the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) then supplemented the funding arrangements and schedule of the Study. 13. The Chairman said that he had agreed with the Chairman of the Working Group on Urban Revitalisation and Historical Buildings Conservation under the Council that the Study would be followed up by the Working Group. The Council was glad to know that the Study, funded by DEVB and URA, would contribute to beautifying the district. G. Master layout plan of Hai Tan Street / Kweilin Street and Pei Ho Street redevelopment projects (SSP/1/003, 004 and 005) (SSPDC Paper 139/09) Resumption of private land for implementation of development scheme SSP/1/003, 004 and 005 by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) at Hai Tan Street/ Kweilin Street and Pei Ho Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon (SSPDC Paper 140/09) 14. Representatives from URA and the Lands Department presented the papers. URA s representative supplemented that URA had reached purchase agreement with 83% of the owners and had applied to resume the land under the Lands Resumption Ordinance in May Eligible tenants would be rehoused in units provided by the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) or the Hong Kong Housing Society. 15. In response to Members views and enquiries, URA s representative said that: (a) In the valuation of 7-year-old units, URA would invite 7 surveying firms to make reference on the completion price of 7-year-old units in the district; 6

7 (b) URA had coordinated with HKHA to earmark public housing units to rehouse eligible tenants as far as possible; due to limited resources, priority would be given to vulnerable groups; (c) As the development project was under the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance, URA had to submit land resumption application within 12 months upon approval of the project by the Chief Executive in Council; (d) URA would consider the proposal put forth by a Member on unit for unit exchange of domestic units and shops in the Urban Renewal Strategy Review; (e) Professionals would be employed by URA in the demolition of buildings to avoid contamination of asbestos so as to safeguard the health of nearby residents; (f) There would be a certain distance between buildings to ensure proper ventilation; (g) Management and maintenance of the open space near Pei Ho Street by URA would be considered. 16. The Council adopted an extempore motion against URA s resumption application under the Lands Resumption Ordinance. URA s representative undertook to relay the adopted motion to URA for consideration of follow-up action. H. Request for URA to be people-oriented and to properly rehouse tenants affected by redevelopment (SSPDC Paper 141/09) 17. Members expressed the following views on the above issue: (a) URA s redevelopments in old districts should be people-oriented and to improve the living environment of residents; (b) Affected tenants should be rehoused in the district. URA should reserve the rights for tenants identified at the first freezing survey; an undertaking should be issued to recall tenants forced to move out to register as affected tenants so as to safeguard their rehousing rights; and serious action should be taken against people impersonating as tenants. 18. In response to Members views, the representative from URA said that: (a) URA s polity objectives were people-oriented; 7

8 (b) At briefings held for owners and tenants, URA stressed that owners should not terminate their tenancies with tenants; they could sell the properties along with the tenancies and such arrangements would not affect the compensation amounts; (c) URA had called on owners not to let the units to new tenants after the freezing survey as this would deprive tenants of their protection. The representative from the Housing Department also clarified that HKHA did not have the policy of recalling tenants to register by issuing an undertaking. 19. In conclusion, the Chairman requested URA s representative to reflect Members concern to the Authority. I. Motion: Request for shelving the public housing development plan at Site 6 of North West Kowloon Reclamation Area to construct community facilities in response to district aspirations expressed over many years (SSPDC Paper 142/09) Request for setting up a Non-Standing Working Group on Concern over the Planning of Site 6 in North West Kowloon Reclamation Area (SSPDC Paper 143/09) 20. Resident representatives from private housing estates near Site 6 raised objection to the construction of a public housing estate in Site 6. They said that the proposed public housing estate would obstruct the only breezeway and affect the air quality in the area, as well as blocking the view. 21. Members put forth the following views in the above paper and motion with amendments proposed during the meeting: (a) There should not be any housing development at Site 6 which was the only breezeway in the area; (b) The proposed non-standing working group could assist the conduct of survey on the community facilities needed and provide justifications to the Town Planning Board in applying for amendment of land use; (c) The proportion of public housing in Sham Shui Po District ranked fourth among 18 districts; the provision of public housing should be shared by all districts; 8

9 (d) The Planning Department to provide sites in the district for development in the next 10 years, and also a list of suggested community facilities to be built so that the Council could consult the residents; (e) To include the agenda item for follow-up at future Council meetings, so that government representatives would report the progress; if such mechanism was not desirable, a working group to follow up on the issue should be considered. 22. The Chairman suggested that the issue should be placed on the agenda of Council meetings which had a higher-level platform, and that departments would send higher-ranking representatives to attend the meetings. He concluded that as Members did not support the public housing development at Site 6. J. Concern over the problem of compensated dating involving young people in Sham Shui Po District (SSPDC Paper 145/09) 23. In response to Members views and enquiries, District Commander (Sham Shui Po) Mrs Pauline NG TSUI said that: (a) Kowloon West Regional Crime Unit had launched actions to combat compensated dating in view of the upward trend of youngsters involved; the Police would patrol suspected vice establishments with warrants issued in pursuance to the Protection of Children and Juveniles Ordinance; so far, no such cases were found in Sham Shui Po District. If the public suspected that young girls were being forced to engage in prostitution, they should call the Police; (b) Apart from monitoring online vice advertisements, the Police had collaborated with 8 websites to post the appeal reminding underage girls not to engage in compensated dating to avoid being controlled by vice establishments; and netizens were reminded not to defy the law, abet or induce others for an immoral purpose; (c) The Police would coorganise talks and seminars with other departments and non-government organisations (NGOs) to teach parents and social workers how to help youngsters face their difficulties, and to raise the community s awareness of the problem. 9

10 24. The representative from the Education Bureau (EDB) supplemented that: (a) Education objectives were set to cultivate positive values in youngsters and promote holistic personal development in primary and secondary schools. Discipline teachers and school social workers were trained to coordinate with social workers of NGOs to take forward various activities; (b) Training courses were organised by schools for teachers to study sex education and raise their awareness in related areas; online resource kits were also produced by EDB to introduce related knowledge. Sex education was included in the school curriculum to cultivate a responsible attitude towards sex, to judge its consequences, to respect others, and to be aware of the sex culture of the community and the media s impact on the growth of youngsters; (c) As regards family education, EDB discussed the problem with parents through Home-School Co-operation Committee so that parents knew the severity of the problem and how to identify whether their children had gone on the wrong track; (d) Through collaboration of Regional Crime Prevention Office (Kowloon West), EDB and social welfare organisations, talks were organised for principals, teachers and members of Parent-Teacher Associations in West Kowloon to raise their awareness of the problem. 25. District Social Welfare Officer (DSW) Mrs Elaine YU said in response that: (a) SWD offered services to help youngsters through school social workers, Integrated Children and Youth Services Centres as well as overnight outreaching teams. Youth service units in the district had in-depth understanding towards the situation of youngsters, and would draw up annual work plans and adjust service priorities to address the development needs of youngsters. Seminars, survey and projects were also organised by NGOs to help youngsters cultivate positive values of life; (b) SWD would arrange for youngsters under court protection orders to meet social workers; in more complicated cases, youngsters would be placed in probation homes/hostels. 10

11 26. The Chairman concluded that compensated dating had raised concern in the community. It was hoped that the Administration would step up enforcement action to prevent youngsters from going on the wrong track. K. Request for more resources to fight against drug, step up source interception, preventive education and counselling-based drug addiction treatment (SSPDC Paper 146/09) 27. In response to the views and enquiries put forth by Members, District Commander (Sham Shui Po) Mrs Pauline NG TSUI said that: (a) The Police and the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) had been striving to cut off the source of drugs; the Police had also maintained close liaison with the Mainland security authorities, overseas counterparts and international organisations on criminal investigation and combat of cross-border drug trafficking through meetings, drawing up action targets, sharing intelligence and taking joint enforcement action. Drug traffickers making use of youngsters to commit drug offences would receive heavy penalty; (b) More police school liaison officers were deployed to police districts in the territory; the manpower of Superintendent s Discretion Scheme, Juvenile Protection Section and the Narcotics Bureau were also enhanced; (c) On preventive education and publicity, the Police, C&ED, outreach social workers and the Mainland authorities had stepped up collaboration to disseminate anti-drug messages to youngsters at border control points. Suspected youth drug addicts would be referred to social service organisations to follow up; (d) Abuse of drugs or soft drugs had been renamed as use of psychotropic substances. 28. The representative from EDB Mr LAM Kwok-keung said that, (a) EDB would arrange NGOs to provide preventive education training for secondary and primary school teachers; teacher relief grant would be provided to schools taking part in 2-day training courses. Respective teaching kits for parents and schools were being produced, and related messages would be disseminated to parents through social workers, teachers and peer counsellors; 11

12 (b) EDB advocated schools to adopt the healthy campus policy; through the curriculum and activities, students could cultivate healthy living habits and stay away from drugs; (c) The Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau had launched the Path Builders initiative; all sectors including companies, schools and NGOs were invited to take part and sponsor anti-drug actions. 29. DSW Mrs Elaine YU said that: (a) From October 2008 onwards, the number of social workers for outreaching social work teams, overnight outreaching teams and community support teams were increased to deal with anti-drug work and help high-risk youngsters. Social workers would also contact parents for cases involving family problems; (b) Counselling centres for psychotropic substance abusers were increased, probation services and drug addiction treatment for drug addicts under the age of 21 had also been enhanced, and subvented places in drug treatment and rehabilitation centres would be further increased to 60 by the end of 2009; (c) Alliance scheme would be a long-term and effective method to offer assistance to youngsters rather than long-term follow-up by social workers on every drug abuse case which involved tremendous resources. 30. District Officer said in response to Members views and enquiries that: (a) Sham Shui Po District Office (SSPDO) had been allocated $500,000 for organising anti-drug activities, and Hong Kong Shamshuipo Industry & Commerce Association had donated $50,000 to sponsor the anti-drug community project. SSPDO would continue to liaise closely with government departments concerned to take forward the anti-drug work. Members could enquire on the progress of the activities through the Council, Committees under the Council or the District Fight Crime Committee; (b) SSPDO had commissioned the Boys and Girls Clubs Association of Hong Kong to organise an anti-drug community project as it had an outreaching social worker team that could attend to high-risk youngsters to take part in healthy activities and thus reduce their attendance to high-risk premises. Apart from training camps and 12

13 interest classes, a network had been organised with youngsters who had contact with drugs; (c) The Council had been invited to be a supporting partner of the anti-drug project. SSPDO was selecting NGOs as alliance to help youth drug addicts voluntarily. 31. The Chairman concluded that the Government was striving to combat drugs and the Council would surely give full support. He hoped all government departments could step up action, enhance education and publicity to solve the youth drug abuse problem using alleviating and fundamental measures. L. Strive for having the option of implementing small class teaching in Sham Shui Po District (SSPDC Paper 147/09) 32. Further to the written response, and in response to Members views and enquiries, the representative from EDB said that: (a) Most stakeholders considered that small class teaching should not be implemented across the board, and individual circumstances of schools should be considered; (b) Small class teaching was not merely reducing the number of students in each class, but to enhance teaching strategy through changing the classroom environment. EDB had earmarked $218 million to provide multi-disciplinary development activities for teachers to enhance teaching for a period of 6 years starting from 2009; (c) EDB had reached a consensus with schools and principals association in the district in deciding which schools to implement small class teaching. The criterion was the number of primary one classes allowed to operate in the 2009/10 school year; when the primary one students in the 2010/11 school year were promoted to higher class, there would be adequate classroom facilities to adopt small class teaching until they were promoted to primary 6 in the 2015/16 school year. In the whole school network, these schools could maintain small class teaching and offer a choice to future students applying for primary one, such a practice would not have serious impact on the supply and demand of classrooms in the district; (d) In projecting the supply and demand of school places in each district or school network during the planning of small class teaching, school premises currently or 13

14 would be vacated and planned to be used as schools were included in the projection for classroom supply. For vacant school premises with confirmed development before small class teaching was announced, they would not be used for implementing small class teaching; (e) EDB agreed with the importance of proper planning, and would strive to obtain land for constructing schools. 33. The Chairman concluded that most primary schools in Hong Kong implemented small class teaching in the current school year, but students in Sham Shui Po district could not fully benefit. The Council urged EDB to follow up on this matter and hoped that some schools in the district could implement small class teaching in the following school years. District Council Secretariat Sham Shui Po District Office January