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Following is a question by the Hon Ip Kwok-him and a reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, in the Legislative Council today (February 3):
Question:
The Chief Executive stated in his 2013 Policy Address that a one-off provision of $100 million would be earmarked for each District Council (DC) to implement the Signature Project Scheme (the 2013 Scheme). Various DCs may decide on their own to carry out projects which will address local needs or highlight the characteristics of the districts. DCs are required to follow the established procedures to consult the relevant committees of this Council on such projects and obtain funding approval from the Finance Committee (FC) of this Council before implementing the projects. A total of 27 projects have been proposed by the 18 DCs in the territory, but among those projects, only about 40% obtained FC's funding approval in the past two years or so. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) given that the funding applications for more than half of the projects under the 2013 Scheme have not been submitted to FC for vetting and approval, whether the Government has plans to complete the funding application procedures for all the projects as early as possible and within the current legislative term; if it does, how this target can be achieved; if not, of the reason for that;
(2) whether it has looked into the difficulties faced by each district in implementing the 2013 Scheme, and how it ensures the sustainability of the Scheme; and
(3) given that the Policy Address this year has proposed implementing the "District-led Actions Scheme" across the territory, of the differences between the contents of this Scheme and those of the 2013 Scheme?
Reply:
Acting President,
The implementation of the Signature Project Scheme (SPS) set out in the 2013 Policy Address and the District-led Actions Scheme (DAS) in the Policy Address this year serves to achieve the objective of enhancing district administration, with a view to taking forward the concept of "addressing district issues at the local level and capitalising on local opportunities" as announced by the Chief Executive (CE).
Under the SPS, a provision of $100 million has been earmarked for each District Council (DC) to implement one to two projects of a larger scale. All SPS projects are subject to a lower limit of $30 million and an upper limit of $100 million. The SPS projects are for the DCs to advocate and decide. DCs are responsible for spearheading its implementation, including conducting district consultation, preparing implementation plans, monitoring project progress and assessing project effectiveness, etc..
(1) On the progress of the SPS, upon consultation and discussion with local residents/organisations, a total of 27 projects were selected by the 18 DCs. The preparatory work of most of the projects has been completed and the projects have been submitted to the Legislative Council (LegCo) for scrutiny. Among them, 11 obtained funding approval in the legislative year of 2013-14 and 2014-15. One of them is a service-oriented project under which the relevant services have been launched in phases, and the other ten are predominantly works-based projects under which the works have commenced or will soon commence. The progress of the remaining 16 projects is as follows:
(a) two works projects, supported by the Public Works Sub-committee (PWSC) on June 30, 2015, require separate voting by the Finance Committee (FC) and are still awaiting the FC's vetting and approval;
(b) another 11 works projects, supported by the Panel on Home Affairs (HA Panel) between May 2015 and January 2016, are pending the PWSC's examination of their funding applications. Six of them, originally included in the agenda of the PWSC meeting on June 30 last year, have yet to be discussed by the PWSC; and
(c) the remaining three projects will be submitted to the HA Panel upon successful completion of the preparatory work by the relevant DCs.
(2) In implementing the SPS, the time required and challenges encountered by the DCs vary with local situations as well as the nature and complexity of the selected projects. Some DCs may need more time for local consultation and discussion before deciding on the projects. Should the projects involve works component, the DCs shall follow the established procedures of public works programmes, including completing the technical feasibility studies and detailed designs, etc., before submitting the projects to the LegCo for scrutiny. Furthermore, some projects are required to go through certain statutory procedures in accordance with relevant legislation, such as application for change of land use under the Town Planning Ordinance and gazettal of works under the Foreshore and Sea-bed (Reclamations) Ordinance, etc.. Moreover, about half of the 27 SPS projects supported by the HA Panel are still awaiting vetting and approval of the PWSC and FC. As a result, the dates of project implementation and completion of facilities for public enjoyment have to be deferred. We hope that the PWSC and FC under the LegCo will examine the submitted projects and approve the funding as soon as possible for early implementation in the interest of the public and local communities. Prolonged delay in funding approval will bring about uncertainties, such as possible increase in project costs, etc..
On the sustainability of SPS projects, the DCs have, during the selection process, taken into account sustainability of various proposals to ensure that the selected ones are viable in the long term and will bring sustainable benefits to local communities. Any project that by nature falls within the purview of a government department will be managed and operated by that department, with the necessary recurrent expenditure being borne by the Government. For projects to be managed and operated by non-profit-making organisations (NPOs), the DCs will have to engage NPOs capable of operating the projects on a self-financing basis as partners to ensure sustainability of the projects. Apart from implementing SPS projects, the DCs are also tasked with monitoring the progress and assessing the effectiveness of the projects. As such, the DCs will put in place a monitoring mechanism for project implementation and subsequent management and operation to ensure sustainability of the projects.
(3) As announced by the CE in his 2014 Policy Address, a pilot scheme was introduced in Sham Shui Po and Yuen Long to enhance district administration through the District Management Committees (DMCs). Given the highly satisfactory results of the implementation of the scheme in the two districts between April 2014 and August 2015, the CE announced in his 2016 Policy Address that the scheme would be extended to all 18 DCs under the DAS to take forward the concept of "addressing district issues at the local level and capitalising on local opportunities". Under the DAS, the DMCs chaired by the District Officers will be given decision-making power to co-ordinate and tackle certain management problems involving public areas, as well as identify local opportunities. The District Officers will consult their respective new-term DCs and the DMCs will decide on the specific details of DAS projects, with a view to proactively addressing district issues requiring attention having regard to district situation.
Ends/Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:45
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