17 Apr 2024Channel C#3373
Chan Wing-yam Questions Film Development Fund Support for “Soft Resistance” Films; Culture Bureau Says Content Is Unrestricted but Must Be Lawful
立法會財委會召開特別會議，工聯會陳穎欣向文化體育及旅遊局提出書面質詢，引述有意見指，電影發展基金資助項目涉嫌有「軟對抗」、「負能量」的情節， 缺少「說好香港故事」、「說好中國故事」的元素，詢問資助項目撥款的審批機制，以及有否對電影內容、 電影創作者的言行進行審核。文體旅局回覆，電影發展基金並沒有規限申請項目的內容，以鼓勵創作，但必須符合基金所有申請資格且沒有違反香港法例，包括《國安法》及23條。
At a special meeting of the Legislative Council Finance Committee, Chan Wing-yam of the Federation of Trade Unions submitted a written question to the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, citing views that projects supported by the Film Development Fund allegedly contained “soft resistance” and “negative energy” plots, and lacked elements of “telling good Hong Kong stories” and “telling good Chinese stories”. She asked about the approval mechanism for funding applications and whether the content of films and the words and conduct of filmmakers were reviewed. The bureau replied that the Film Development Fund did not restrict the content of applications, in order to encourage creativity, but applicants must meet all the fund’s eligibility requirements and must not violate Hong Kong laws, including the National Security Law and Article 23.
17 Apr 2024獨媒#3378
Chan Wing-shan Questions Whether Film Development Fund Projects Receiving Subsidies Involve ‘Soft Resistance’; Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau Says People May Have Different Feelings
香港電影金像獎頒獎禮在剛過去的周日舉行，多套港產片成績優異。工聯會立法會議員陳穎欣就關注，稱有意見指「電影發展基金」資助項目涉嫌有「軟對抗」、負能量的情節，缺少「說好香港故事」、「說好中國故事」的元素。文化體育及旅遊局回覆稱，電影內容都有多方面的訊息，不同人可能有不同的看法和感受。
The Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony was held last Sunday, with several Hong Kong-produced films performing excellently. Legislative Council member Chan Wing-shan of the Federation of Trade Unions expressed concern, saying there were views that projects subsidised by the Film Development Fund might contain plots involving “soft resistance” and negative energy, and lacked elements of “telling Hong Kong’s story well” and “telling China’s story well”. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau replied that films contain messages from various perspectives, and different people may have different views and feelings.
16 Apr 2024獨媒#3358
Carrie Lam’s Former Chief Executive Office Spent $9.17 Million Last Year, Up 32% Year on Year
政府面對千億財赤就「派糖減甜」，但政府開支卻不斷增加。前任行政長官辦公室2023/24年度的開支約為2,099萬元，當中有逾四成約917萬為林鄭月娥位於金鐘太古廣場「前任特首辦」的開支，較前一年約695萬元增31.9%。行政署今日在立法會表示，林鄭的辦公室在2022年年中設立，2022/23年度的數字反映9個月的開支，2023/24年度才完全反映12個月的開支。至於會否遷至「無咁甲級」的地方，行政署指特首離任後需給予恰如其分的地位及尊重，考慮其身份及禮儀工作，辦公室最適合設於市區中心及有保安的大廈，而且前特首辦公室性質獨特，不適宜定立硬指標。
As the Government scales back its handouts while facing a fiscal deficit of $100 billion, government spending continues to rise. The former chief executive’s office spent about $20.99 million in 2023/24, of which more than 40%, or about $9.17 million, was spent on Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s former chief executive office at Pacific Place in Admiralty—up 31.9% from about $6.95 million the previous year. The Administration Wing told the Legislative Council today that Lam’s office was set up in mid-2022, and the 2022/23 figure reflected nine months of expenditure, while the 2023/24 figure fully reflected 12 months. Asked whether it would be moved to a “less Grade A” location, the Administration Wing said a former chief executive should be accorded an appropriate status and respect after leaving office. Taking into account the former chief executive’s status and ceremonial duties, the office was most suitably located in a secure building in the city centre. It also said former chief executive offices were unique in nature and it was inappropriate to set hard indicators.
6 Apr 2024獨媒#3315
Education Bureau: No hard targets set for number or timetable of universities of applied sciences
去年施政報告宣布推動成立「應用科學大學」（應科大），教育局在今年二月公布申請條件後，香港都會大學在三月正式成為首間「應科大」。立法會教育事務委員會周五（4月5日）討論，教育局副局長施俊輝指當局未有就數量及成立時間表設立硬指標。
Last year’s Policy Address announced plans to establish universities of applied sciences. After the Education Bureau announced the application requirements in February this year, Hong Kong Metropolitan University formally became the first university of applied sciences in March. The Legislative Council Panel on Education discussed the matter on Friday (April 5). Deputy Secretary for Education Jeff Chun Fai Sze said the authorities had not set hard targets for the number of universities or the timetable for their establishment.
25 Mar 2024獨媒#3239
Major Parties Lobby for Further Delay to Waste Charging; Leung Hei Says Pandemic Cost Three Years, Lo Wai-kwok Suggests Waiting for Incinerator
《明報》政情專欄今日引述消息稱，立法會內反對垃圾徵費的呼聲甚高，不排除垃圾徵費在8月1日「泡湯」。立法會環境事務委員會下午開會，兩個立法會「大黨」為當局提供「下台階」，例如民建聯梁熙稱疫情令政府「唔見咗3年」，堅持如期推行將「非常困難」。經民聯主席盧偉國更建議，不如等待「I·PARK」焚化設施明年啟用才推行。環境局局長謝展寰多次重申「有決心」推行，透過試行計劃「真心想睇吓」市民的心情和感受，再做部署。他無明言是否延期，但指即使有法律框架，不代表「不論任何情況都要跟住」。
Ming Pao’s political column today quoted sources as saying that opposition to waste charging was strong in the Legislative Council, and that the scheme might be shelved on 1 August. The Legislative Council’s Panel on Environmental Affairs met in the afternoon, with two “major parties” in the council offering the government a “way out”. Democratic Alliance for Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong legislator Leung Hei said the pandemic had caused the government to “lose three years” and that proceeding as scheduled would be “extremely difficult”. Lo Wai-kwok, chairman of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong, suggested waiting until the “I·PARK” incineration facility began operation next year before introducing the scheme. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan repeatedly reiterated that the government was “determined” to implement it, saying the trial scheme was intended to “genuinely see” the public’s mood and feelings before making further arrangements. He did not say explicitly whether the scheme would be postponed, but said that even with a legal framework, it did not mean that it had to be followed “regardless of the circumstances”.
20 Mar 2024獨媒#3218
Suspected of falling asleep and failing to raise hand, So Cheung-wing says gastric ulcer caused “severe chest pain” all day
《維護國家安全條例草案》昨（19日）通過二讀期間，選委界蘇長荣疑在表決時低頭睡覺未有舉手，引來熱議。立法會今日舉行大會，蘇長荣現身會議廳就一項議員議案發言，未見身體抱恙。不過，記者在會後追問昨日為何未有投票，他表示患有胃潰瘍，昨日整個過程心口「劇痛」，但未有回應是否有食藥。至於及後是否收到「提醒」，他沒有正面回應，僅稱「其他全部都投」。
During the second reading of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance Bill yesterday (19th), So Cheung-wing of the Election Committee constituency was suspected of lowering his head and falling asleep during the vote without raising his hand, prompting widespread discussion. The Legislative Council held a meeting today, at which So appeared in the chamber and spoke on a Members’ motion, with no apparent sign of ill health. However, when asked by reporters after the meeting why he had not voted yesterday, he said he had a gastric ulcer and had experienced “severe chest pain” throughout the entire process, but did not respond to whether he had taken medication. Asked whether he had subsequently received a “reminder”, he did not answer directly, saying only: “I voted on everything else.”
19 Mar 2024獨媒#3206
[Article 23 Legislation] Bill’s Second Reading Passed; So Cheung-wing Suspected of Falling Asleep and Failing to Raise His Hand
《維護國家安全條例草案》正在立法會進入最後直路，已經完成二讀，現正踏入為全體委員會審議政府提出的修正案。完成後就會進入三讀辯論和表決。
約下午4時10分，大會在不記名投票下，舉手通過《條例草案》二讀，來自選委界的蘇長荣在表決期間低頭睡覺未有舉手。在席87名議員全部均舉手投支持票，只有選委界立法會議員蘇長荣一人沒有舉手支持。
The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance Bill is in the final stage of its passage through the Legislative Council. Its second reading has been completed, and the Council is now entering the Committee stage to consider amendments proposed by the Government. It will then proceed to debate and voting on the third reading.
At about 4:10pm, the Council passed the Bill’s second reading by a show of hands in an unrecorded vote. So Cheung-wing of the Election Committee constituency had his head lowered and was asleep during the vote and did not raise his hand. All 87 lawmakers present raised their hands to vote in favour, with So Cheung-wing, the sole Election Committee constituency lawmaker, the only one who did not raise his hand in support.
19 Mar 2024獨媒#3211
[Article 23 Legislation] Plenary Resumes Second-Reading Debate, Set to Pass Today; Lam So-wai Says She Supports It “Even If It Means Being Smashed to Pieces”
立法會大會今早加開會議，就《維護國家安全條例草案》恢復二讀辯論，接近中午1時，已有四十多名議員發言，按此進度《條例草案》相信能在傍晚三讀通過。「支持」是基本盤，為了突圍而出，議員表達不同種類支持聲，例如稱「堅決支持」、「大力支持」，林素蔚更表示「完全支持、粉身碎骨咁支持」。選委界管浩鳴為極速立法解畫，他稱政府最不樂見動用國安法，「因為係一件好丟架嘅事情」，他稱趕急立法是為了盡快保障市民，「唔係諗住隨便捉捕大家」。
The Legislative Council held an additional meeting this morning to resume the second-reading debate on the Safeguarding National Security Bill. By around 1pm, more than 40 legislators had spoken, and at this pace the Bill is expected to pass its third reading in the evening. “Support” is the basic position, but legislators expressed different degrees of support to stand out, using phrases such as “firmly support” and “strongly support”. Lam So-wai said she “fully supports it and supports it even if it means being smashed to pieces”. Kwan Ho-ming of the Election Committee constituency explained the speed of the legislation, saying the Government would least want to invoke the National Security Law “because it would be a very embarrassing thing”. He said the legislation was being expedited to protect residents as soon as possible, “not because [the Government] plans to arrest everyone at will”.
18 Mar 2024獨媒#3200
Article 23 legislation: LegCo to hold extra meeting tomorrow to resume second reading; passage would complete legislation in just 11 days from gazettal
立法會大會將於明日早上9時加開一節會議，議程只得一項，就是處理《維護國家安全條例草案》恢復二讀辯論，以及全體審議和三讀的立法工作，最快明日就可以三讀通過。《條例草案》在3月8日早上刊憲，若明日三讀通過，僅花11日就完成立法。
The Legislative Council will hold an additional meeting at 9am tomorrow, with a single item on the agenda: handling the resumption of the second reading debate on the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance Bill, as well as its committee stage and third reading. The bill could pass its third reading as soon as tomorrow. It was gazetted on the morning of 8 March; if it passes its third reading tomorrow, the legislation will have taken only 11 days to complete.
15 Mar 2024獨媒#3186
[Article 23 Legislation] House Committee Accepts Tang Ping-keung’s Request to Waive Notice; Deadline for Amendments Set for Tomorrow Noon
《基本法》第23條立法工作又邁進一大步，保安局局長鄧炳強今早去信立法會內務委員會，表示會尋求立法會主席豁免預告，並盡早將《維護國家安全條例草案》恢復二讀辯論。立法會內會今午舉行會議，接納鄧炳強的請求，並將提交草案的修正案限期訂於明日（16日）中午12時。
The legislative work on Article 23 of the Basic Law has taken another major step forward. Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung wrote to the Legislative Council’s House Committee this morning, saying he would seek the LegCo President’s waiver of the notice requirement and resume the Second Reading debate on the Safeguarding National Security Bill as soon as possible. The House Committee held a meeting this afternoon and accepted Tang’s request, setting noon tomorrow (16th) as the deadline for submitting amendments to the bill.
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
