4 Oct 2023獨媒#8440
Members of "the three committees" Say They Are Willing to Provide Email Addresses, Citing Phone Contact: “They Know Me, but I May Not Know Them”
區議會選舉提名期本月17日展開，能提名區議員的「三會」委員名單雖然公開，但並無公開聯絡方法。兩名「三會」委員今在電台節目稱，願意公開其電郵，其中容馬珊兒稱電話聯絡有時「佢認識我我未必認識佢」，有意參選者透過電郵可詳述履歷及參選意願。
The nomination period for the District Council election begins on the 17th of this month. Although the list of "the three committees" members who can nominate District Council candidates is public, no contact details have been released. Two "the three committees" members said on a radio programme today that they were willing to make their email addresses public. Yung Ma Shan-yee said that when contacted by phone, sometimes “they know me, but I may not know them”, and that prospective candidates could provide details of their background and intention to stand for election by email.
28 Sept 2023獨媒#8422
EAC chairman says barring Care Team members from standing could be discriminatory and unfair
前區議員與關愛隊息息相關，若隊員或隊長選擇參選，隨時涉及用公帑助選的問題。民政事務總署早前向關愛隊發指引，列出選舉期間的守則，任何關愛隊成員參選，須即時停止關愛隊工作。在今日選舉管理委員會記者會上，主席陸啟康指看不到阻撓關愛隊成員參選的理據，他認為若選管會制訂指引不准關愛隊參選，「會唔會係反歧視，對佢地反而唔公平？」他指難言事件有無問題，不過民政總署的指引已經足夠。
Former district councillors are closely connected with Care Teams, and if team members or captains choose to stand for election, this could raise the issue of using public funds to assist election campaigns. The Home Affairs Department earlier issued guidelines to Care Teams setting out rules during the election period. Any Care Team member who stands for election must immediately cease Care Team duties. At a press conference held by the Electoral Affairs Commission today, its chairman, Lok Kai-hong, said he saw no basis for obstructing Care Team members from standing. He said that if the commission issued guidelines barring Care Team members from standing, "would that be discriminatory and, instead, unfair to them?" He said it was difficult to say whether there was a problem with the situation, but the Home Affairs Department's guidelines were already sufficient.
21 Sept 2023獨媒#8398
Democratic Party recommends eight for District Council election; Lo Kin-hei urges disclosure of "the three committees" members’ contact details
區議會換屆選舉下月中接受提名，民主黨中委會周三（20日）通過推薦8名成員參選，據了解包括主席羅健熙。在新選舉制度下，參選需要取得三會成員提名，羅健熙促民政處提供各區的三會成員名單、聯絡方法，指處方、選管會均有責任公開相關資料，讓有意參選人士能接觸提名人：「唔係淨係民主黨要去參選，其他市民都可能有咁嘅心願。」
Nominations for the District Council election will open in the middle of next month. The Democratic Party’s Central Committee approved on Wednesday (20th) the recommendation of eight members to stand for election, understood to include its chairperson, Lo Kin-hei. Under the new electoral system, candidates must obtain nominations from "the three committees" members. Lo urged the Home Affairs Department to provide lists and contact details of "the three committees" members in each district, saying the department and the Electoral Affairs Commission both had a responsibility to make the relevant information public so that people intending to stand for election could contact nominators: “It is not only the Democratic Party that wants to stand for election; other members of the public may also have such aspirations.”
15 Sept 2023獨媒#8372
Yau Tsim Mong District Council Holds Final Meeting; Outgoing Chair Expects More Distant Ties Between Councillors and Residents Under New System
油尖旺區議會周四（13日）舉行今屆最後一次大會會議，四名民主派在會後合照。區議會主席林健文在會議尾聲表示感謝議員支持，稱對出任主席感到榮幸，祝議員工作順利、身體健康及生活愉快，獲多名官員拍掌支持。林健文對《獨媒》表示，在新選制下的直選區議員，需要服務由多個小選區合併而成的大選區，預料將會與居民關係會較為疏離：「街坊可能都要習慣下，諗下係咪仲要依賴區議員啦。」
The Yau Tsim Mong District Council held the final full council meeting of its current term on Thursday (13th), after which four pro-democracy councillors took a group photo. At the end of the meeting, District Council chairman Lam Kin-man thanked councillors for their support, said he was honoured to have served as chairman, and wished them success in their work, good health and a happy life, drawing applause from several officials. Lam told The Witness that under the new electoral system, directly elected district councillors would need to serve larger constituencies formed by merging several smaller constituencies, and were expected to have more distant relationships with residents: “Residents may also have to get used to it and think about whether they still need to rely on district councillors.”
13 Sept 2023獨媒#8362
Lo Kin-hei says party central committee to decide within a month whether to contest District Council election; hopes to “do fine-grained work within limited space”
「完善」後的區議會選舉將於年尾舉行，民主黨會否派員參選成為社會關注。民主黨今（13 日）召開記者會就施政報告發表建議，多名記者問到其在區議會選舉的部署。主席羅健熙表示，現時有黨員參與支部甄選，中委將在9月中作決定。他承認不少選民已移民，或對改制後的區議會感到「無癮」，但認為民主黨的工作是說服選民，「環境幾差都好，試下係咪好過唔試呢？」
The “overhauled” District Council election will be held at the end of the year, and whether the Democratic Party will field candidates has become a matter of public concern. The Democratic Party held a press conference today (13th) to present recommendations on the Policy Address, and several reporters asked about its plans for the District Council election. Chairperson Lo Kin-hei said some party members were currently taking part in branch-level selection, and that the central committee would make a decision in mid-September. He acknowledged that many voters had emigrated or might find the District Council less appealing after the changes, but said the Democratic Party’s role was to persuade voters: “No matter how bad the environment is, why not try and see whether it is better than not trying?”
7 Sept 2023明報#8333
Several lawmakers say it concerned an “instruction”; some say “even repeated questions are recorded”
本報早前曾報道，今屆立法會議員出席會議及投票率低，近日又發生「立會好聲音」風波，立法會「班長」廖長江日前在議員群組發信函提及勤政指標包括出席率、投票率等。多名議員昨日表示，自上次「班長」提示至財委會會議，其間未再收到提示要出席會議或在席投票，但不諱言大家經過較早前一役後應「醒目」、「識做」，昨日財委會難得出席人數多、發言人數多，「肯定同（班長的）訓示有關」。
This newspaper previously reported that attendance and voting rates among members of the current Legislative Council were low. The “LegCo Good Voice” controversy has since emerged. In a letter sent to the lawmakers’ group recently, Legislative Council “class monitor” Lo Cheung-kong said indicators of diligence included attendance and voting rates. Several lawmakers said yesterday that, between the “class monitor’s” previous reminder and the Finance Committee meeting, they had received no further reminders to attend meetings or vote while present. They nevertheless acknowledged that, after the earlier episode, everyone should be “alert” and “know what to do”. The Finance Committee had an unusually high number of attendees and speakers yesterday, which they said was “certainly related to the instruction” from the “class monitor”.
6 Sept 2023獨媒#8327
Disaster Relief Fund Secures $70 Million in Funding; Finance Committee Approves It Unanimously by Show of Hands
內地早前受颱風杜蘇芮影響發生水災，港府從賑災基金原則性批出6,500萬元予9間機構，但令基金陷入乾塘，結果要向立法會財委會申請撥款，注資7,000萬元。經過「班長」廖長江早前「溫提」要盡量開會後，有多達39名議員發言。不過會上繼續沒有反對聲音，甚至要求賑災基金上限增至3億元。會上透露機構賑災性質是「派物資」，包括書包、文具、食物、消毒物品、棉被等，有議員質疑水災已經發生近兩個月，派物資何來迫切，政務司司長陳國基強調賑災不是基於政治原因，從人道立場出發。撥款最後以舉手表決，在沒有人反對下撥出7,000萬元。
Flooding occurred on the mainland earlier after Typhoon Doksuri. The Hong Kong government approved in principle $65 million from the Disaster Relief Fund for nine organisations, leaving the fund depleted. It therefore applied to the Legislative Council Finance Committee for a $70 million injection. After committee chairman Lau Cheung-kong had earlier reminded members to make the most of meeting time, as many as 39 lawmakers spoke. However, there were still no opposing voices, and some even called for the fund’s ceiling to be raised to $300 million. The meeting revealed that the organisations’ relief efforts involved distributing supplies, including schoolbags, stationery, food, disinfectant items and quilts. Some lawmakers questioned the urgency of distributing supplies when the flooding had occurred nearly two months earlier. Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki stressed that the relief was not politically motivated but was undertaken on humanitarian grounds. The funding was ultimately approved by a show of hands, with no objections, and $70 million was allocated.
6 Sept 2023獨媒#8328
After “class monitor’s reminder”, first meeting sees authorised absence; back-row lawmaker nearly left “voiceless”
《明報》早前踢爆有16條政府法案表決時， 在席議員不過半，加上近日「立會好聲音」事件，驚動「班長」廖長江向議員發出「溫提」。今早財委會在立會「唞暑」期間加開會，至少68名議員準時「坐定定」開會。多名議員在賑災的9間機構中，參與管理層工作，或直接與賑災工作有關，多達33名議員以接龍方式申報利益，部份人表明不參與討論和投票。馬逢國和林健鋒對申報方式嘖奇，指理應是發言前才申報。財委會主席陳振英解釋，有議員不參與投票，「咁樣等大家知道，投票嗰時點解會少咗啲議員喺度參與」。
Ming Pao earlier exposed that fewer than half of the legislators present had attended votes on 16 government bills. Together with the recent “LegCo good voice” incident, this prompted “class monitor” Liao Cheung-kong to issue a reminder to legislators. The Finance Committee held an additional meeting this morning during the Legislative Council’s summer recess, with at least 68 legislators arriving on time. Several legislators had taken part in the management of, or were directly connected with the relief work of, nine disaster-relief organisations. As many as 33 legislators declared interests one after another, with some stating that they would not take part in the discussion or voting. Ma Fung-kwok and Lam Kin-fung questioned this method of declaration, saying interests should only be declared before speaking. Finance Committee chairman Ronick Chun Ying Chan explained that some legislators would not vote, saying, “This lets everyone know why there will be fewer legislators participating when the vote takes place.”
6 Sept 2023集誌社#8330
Disaster Relief Fund | “Expenditure exceeds income”: LegCo approves supplementary funding; 34 legislators linked to organisations approved for grants
賑災基金截至 8 月底結餘 7200 萬，政府預期撥款 8800 萬賑華北水災，在基金「赤字」下，今日（6日）向立法會財務委員會追加 7000 萬撥款，在無人反對的情況下通過。政府 8 月中宣布，向九個機構原則性撥款 6500 萬元賑濟華北水災後，其中兩個已獲正式撥款，另外七個仍在敲定詳細計劃；另有一個新機構已獲批撥款，五個有意申請。
今次獲批撥款機構中，有最少七個屬首次獲批撥款的親建制團體。議員關注政府審批準則是甚麼、以及申請詳情。政務司司長陳國基回應指，歡迎新志願機構申請，因可提供多元化服務，「唔係來來去去嗰兩三間都係派嘢」；不過，在議員追問詳情下，行政署長披露團體賑災主要申請內容，仍然為派發物資，「如棉被、消毒用品、書包、文具、食物等救災物品」。
The Disaster Relief Fund had a balance of HK$72 million at the end of August, while the Government expected to allocate HK$88 million for relief efforts following floods in North China. With the fund facing a “deficit”, the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council today (6th) approved an additional allocation of HK$70 million without objection. In mid-August, the Government announced in-principle allocations totalling HK$65 million to nine organisations for the relief effort. Two have since received formal funding approval, while the detailed plans of the other seven are still being finalised. One additional organisation has been approved for funding, and five have indicated that they intend to apply.
At least seven of the organisations approved for funding this time are pro-establishment groups receiving funding for the first time. Legislators asked about the Government’s approval criteria and the details of the applications. Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki said new voluntary organisations were welcome to apply because they could provide a wider range of services, adding that it should not be the case that “the same two or three [organisations] are always distributing things”. In response to legislators’ requests for details, the Director of Administration disclosed that the main items requested by the organisations for disaster relief were still the distribution of supplies, “such as quilts, disinfecting products, schoolbags, stationery, food and other relief items”.
5 Sept 2023獨媒#8320
Four pro-democracy councillors bid farewell to Sham Shui Po District Council; “last” chair Tak Shing Chum will not seek re-election and will also quit ADPL executive committee
區議會換屆選舉年底舉行，深水埗區議會今早舉行現屆最後一次大會會議，4名民主派議員表明無意連任，將告別區議會。來屆區議會將由民政專員兼任主席，不設副主席。深水埗區議會主席覃德誠表明不會連任區議員，更將同時辭任民協執委。覃德誠在總結發言時，對未能邀請相關政策局或部門官員出席會議感抱歉：「呢兩年小弟呢，喺呢方面未能夠有改善。」他期望，新任區議會主席能邀請更多官員「多啲開會」，與議員直接對話。
The District Council election will be held at the end of the year. The Sham Shui Po District Council held the final full council meeting of its current term this morning, where four pro-democracy councillors said they did not intend to seek re-election and would bid farewell to the council. The next-term District Council will be chaired concurrently by the District Officer, with no vice-chairman. Sham Shui Po District Council Chairman Tak Shing Chum said he would not seek re-election as a district councillor and would also resign from the executive committee of the Association for Democracy and People’s Livelihood. In his concluding remarks, Tak Shing Chum apologised for being unable to invite officials from the relevant policy bureaux or departments to attend meetings: “Over these two years, I have been unable to improve in this regard.” He hoped the new District Council chairman would invite more officials to “hold meetings more often” and engage in direct dialogue with councillors.
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
