28 Apr 2023信報#6379
Development Bureau disappointed by unverified, out-of-context comments
本土研究社日前引述羅兵咸永道去年7月在《承先啟後，共創新機—解讀北部都會區發展策略》研討上簡報表示，同時展開兩項工程會構成沉重財政壓力。本土研究社質疑政府似乎忽略經濟顧問意見，同時硬推兩項大型工程，不知道是「哪來的自信」。
發展局回應指出，羅兵咸永道是北部都會區部分土地發展項目(流浮山、尖鼻咀及白泥、新界北新市鎮及新田科技城)和交椅洲人工島項目硏究的財務分包顧問。該局知悉羅兵咸永道已就事件發出聲明，指出在研討會簡報使用的數據並非官方估算，並對有關組織只引述部分資料的做法表示遺憾，保留法律追究權利。該局對於有人未經求證而作出斷章取義的評論表示失望。
The Liber Research Community recently cited a presentation by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) at last July’s seminar, “Building on the Past, Creating New Opportunities—Interpreting the Development Strategy for the Northern Metropolis”, as saying that launching two projects simultaneously would create heavy fiscal pressure. The Liber Research Community questioned whether the Government had apparently disregarded the views of its economic advisers while pushing ahead with the two major projects, asking where it got the confidence.
The Development Bureau said PwC was the financial sub-consultant for studies on some Northern Metropolis land development projects—Lau Fau Shan, Nim Wan and Pak Nai, the New Territories North New Town, and the San Tin Technopole—and the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands project. The Bureau said it was aware that PwC had issued a statement saying the data used in the seminar presentation were not official estimates, expressing regret that the organisation had cited only some of the information, and reserving the right to take legal action. The Bureau said it was disappointed by comments made without verification and by selectively quoting information out of context.
27 Apr 2023獨媒#6372
Lau Wai-tuen: If Pan-democrats Boycott Elections Again, They Will Be Politically “Seeking Their Own Destruction and Beyond Redemption”
前年「完善」立法會，出現泛民應不應該參選討論，政府「完善」區議會研究走到最後階段，論調又重提。全國僑聯副主席盧文端今日在《明報》撰文，除了為區議會擬引入委任及間選護航，再提出若泛民如上一次「軟性杯葛」新選制，將「等於自絕於香港的選舉」，政治上「自尋死路、無可救藥」。他又稱現任數十名泛民背景區議員，「沒有道理放棄參選」。
Two years ago, after the Legislative Council electoral system was “improved”, a debate emerged over whether pan-democrats should stand for election. As the government’s study on “improving” the district council system reaches its final stage, the argument has been raised again. Lau Wai-tuen, vice-chairman of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, wrote in Ming Pao today, defending the proposed introduction of appointed and indirectly elected seats to district councils. He also said that if pan-democrats mounted a “soft boycott” of the new electoral system as they did last time, it would “amount to cutting themselves off from Hong Kong’s elections” and would be politically “seeking their own destruction and beyond redemption”. He said there was “no reason” for the dozens of incumbent district councillors with pan-democratic backgrounds to give up standing for election.
27 Apr 2023獨媒#6375
Ning Hon-ho says 60% of submissions support Kau Yi Chau artificial islands, calls polls showing majority opposition “sample surveys” and says methods differ
發展局去年12月29日在未有主動公布下，展開交椅洲人工島階段性公眾參與活動，被團體批評為「鬼崇」。局方今日公布結果，指在收到7,800份意見書中有六成支持，發展局局長甯漢豪形容為「鼓舞」。被問到有團體民調顯示人工島支持度不高，甯漢豪稱不評論，指大家使用的方法不同，局方的活動接觸面「相當廣」，團體的民調亦只是一個「抽樣調查」。她亦被問到局方早前稱人工島專題網頁有2萬點擊，指「絕對唔係話講咗幾多萬人就覺得沾沾自喜，或者係足夠」，會持續增加公眾了解。
The Development Bureau launched a phased public engagement exercise on the Kau Yi Chau artificial islands on December 29 last year without proactively announcing it, drawing criticism from groups that called it “secretive”. The bureau announced the results today, saying that 60% of the 7,800 submissions received supported the project. Development Secretary Ning Hon-ho described the result as “encouraging”. Asked about polls by groups showing low support for the artificial islands, Ning said she would not comment, saying the methods used were different. She said the bureau’s exercise had a “considerably broad” reach, while the groups’ polls were only “sample surveys”. Asked about the bureau’s earlier statement that a dedicated webpage on the artificial islands had received 20,000 clicks, she said this was “absolutely not to say that, because tens of thousands of people had been mentioned, [we] would feel pleased with ourselves, or that it was sufficient”, adding that efforts to increase public understanding would continue.
26 Apr 2023獨媒#6358
Customs Becomes First Disciplined Service to Join Douyin; Ho Pui-shan Reminds Mainland Visitors to Shop Wisely
行政長官李家超與政府官員上任後均開設不同社交平台帳戶，多個政府部門之後紛紛響應，其中香港海關今日（26日）公佈再啟用抖音官方帳號，是首個「進軍」抖音的紀律部隊。首條影片由關長何珮珊擔正，全長17秒，她以普通話表示歡迎內地人五一黃金周來港，提醒要精明消費，並呼籲「給我們點個讚」。
After Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and government officials opened accounts on various social media platforms following their assumption of office, multiple government departments followed suit. Hong Kong Customs announced today (26th) that it had reactivated its official Douyin account, becoming the first disciplined service to join the platform. The first video, featuring Commissioner Ho Pui-shan, lasts 17 seconds. Speaking in Putonghua, she welcomed mainland visitors to Hong Kong during the May Day Golden Week, reminded them to shop wisely and urged them to “give us a like”.
26 Apr 2023獨媒#6359
EOC plans to add national security clauses, vetting job applicants and polling bodies to ensure patriotism
審計報告提及平機會如何執行維護國家安全責任，除了研究在招聘過程加入審查機制，確保由愛國者填補職位空缺，平機會亦將向申請籌辦意見調查、研究項目的機構及服務提供者，進行背景審查，並要求機構安排的義工、臨時員工和導師守法。另外平機會亦在內部《採購手冊》新增國安條款，平機會可以取消投標者資格和終止合約。
An audit report referred to how the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) carries out its responsibility to safeguard national security. In addition to studying the introduction of a vetting mechanism into the recruitment process to ensure that vacancies are filled by patriots, the EOC will conduct background checks on organisations and service providers applying to organise opinion surveys and research projects, and require the volunteers, temporary staff and tutors arranged by those organisations to comply with the law. The EOC has also added national security clauses to its internal Procurement Manual, under which it may disqualify bidders and terminate contracts.
26 Apr 2023RTHK#6361
Audit Report: LCSD Should Strengthen Review of Library Materials to Safeguard National Security
審計署發表新一份《衡工量值》報告，認為康文署應該加強檢視圖書館資料，以維護國家安全。康文署回應時就說，同意採取行動以維護國家安全，實為重中之重，公共圖書館已完成檢視顯然不利於國家安全的書籍，並已從館藏中移除。
The Audit Commission published a new Value for Money Audit report, stating that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) should strengthen its review of library materials to safeguard national security. In response, the LCSD said it agreed that taking action to safeguard national security was of paramount importance. Public libraries had completed their review of books that were clearly detrimental to national security and removed them from their collections.
26 Apr 2023獨媒#6362
Remote Hearings for Criminal Proceedings to Begin as Early as Mid-Next Year; Judiciary Advises Against Their Use in Trials
司法機構早前公布《法院（遙距聆訊）條例草案》，容許刑事案件採用遙距聆訊，早前完成3個月公眾諮詢。根據司法機構向立法會提交的文件，指收到大律師公會、律師會、警隊等持份者意見，普遍「反應正面」。司法機構列出法庭考慮頒令遙距聆訊的七個條件，包括與訟各方的意見和權利、對證人可信性及證據可靠性的影響等。司法機構計劃在今年第四季向立法會提交條例草案，將會在條例通過後6個月開始實行。
The Judiciary earlier announced the Courts (Remote Hearing) Bill, which would allow remote hearings in criminal cases, and completed a three-month public consultation. In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council, the Judiciary said it had received views from stakeholders including the Bar Association, the Law Society and the police, with the response generally “positive”. The Judiciary listed seven conditions for the court to consider making an order for a remote hearing, including the views and rights of the parties and the impact on the credibility of witnesses and the reliability of evidence. It plans to submit the Bill to the Legislative Council in the fourth quarter of this year, with implementation to begin six months after the Bill is passed.
26 Apr 2023獨媒#6363
Increase in Adult Chinese Books Falls Short of Target as LCSD Says National Security Requirements Have Reduced Suitable Titles
新一份審計報告審核康文署圖書館管理，維護國家安全是審核範疇之一。報告透露康文署有指引在選購資料、考慮購書建議，及接受書籍捐贈時，均須確保館藏不會不利國安。康文署又向審計署解釋成人中文館藏的新增圖書量不達標，與館藏發展計劃所訂數目有顯著差距，原因之一是為了維護國家安全，揀選圖書需要更多時間，而「可供採購的合適書目亦減少」。
A new Audit Commission report reviewing the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s library management included the safeguarding of national security among its areas of examination. The report revealed that the LCSD has guidelines requiring it to ensure that library holdings will not be detrimental to national security when selecting materials, considering book purchase suggestions and accepting book donations. The LCSD also explained to the Audit Commission that the number of new books added to the adult Chinese collection fell short of the figure set out in its collection development plan by a significant margin. One reason was that selecting books required more time to safeguard national security, and that “the number of suitable titles available for procurement had also decreased.”
25 Apr 2023獨媒#6357
Government reclaims 1,200 Mutual Aid Committee offices; some to be leased to Care Teams
政府去年解散全港互助委員會，收回逾1,200個互委會辦事處。房委會已完成探討收回後的用途，部分將租予關愛隊用作地區辦事處，可享有優惠租金，即每平方米每月62元。另外50個位於大廈保安閘範圍內的前互委會辦事處將改建為住宅，其餘則用作內部使用、配合垃圾徵費及回收便利點等。
The Government dissolved territory-wide Mutual Aid Committees last year and reclaimed more than 1,200 Mutual Aid Committee offices. The Housing Authority has completed a review of their future uses. Some will be leased to Care Teams as district offices at a concessionary rent of HK$62 per square metre per month. Another 50 former Mutual Aid Committee offices located within building security gate areas will be converted into residential units. The remaining offices will be used internally and for purposes including supporting waste charging and recycling convenience points.
24 Apr 2023獨媒#6352
May 1 march application draws “Do we need to bring gear?” comment from Joe Wong: police accused of being hypersensitive
行政長官李家超舉行行政會議前見記者，指地方行政檢討已進入尾聲。他大篇幅批評2019年當選的區議員，重申「唔會准許區議會成為港獨平台」。李家超指區議會仍值得保留，但需「去政治化」，而選舉方面將「有多種方式」並「保留一定嘅選舉成份」，議席數目將於現屆相若。
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu met the press before a meeting of the Executive Council and said the review of district administration was nearing completion. He strongly criticised district councillors elected in 2019 and reiterated that the government would “not allow district councils to become platforms for Hong Kong independence”. Lee said district councils were still worth retaining but needed to be “depoliticised”. As for elections, he said there would be “various ways” and that “a certain electoral element” would be retained, while the number of seats would be broadly similar to that in the current term.
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
