Replies to Questions from Finance Committee Members

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04 Reply Serial No. CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION ETWB(E)063 Question Serial No. Head : 44 Environmental Protection Department Subhead(No. & title): 1045 Programme : (2) Air Controlling Officer : Director of Environmental Protection Director of Bureau : Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Question : Under the above Programme, there has been an annual decrease in the "percentage of time with all monitoring stations complying with short term Air Quality Objectives" since 2001. What are the reasons? Does it indicate that the situation on exceedance of air pollution is becoming more serious in Hong Kong? What measures have been taken by the Government in 2002-03 to alleviate the situation and what is the expenditure involved? What is the estimated expenditure for the related work in 2003-04? Asked by : Hon. LAW Chi-kwong Reply : The decrease in the compliance rate for the short-term Air Quality Objectives (AQO) in 2002 was caused by an exceptionally long spell of calm weather between 1 January 2002 and 12 January 2002. Gototop Despite that high air pollution episode, the compliance rate for the long-term AQOs (i.e. annual averaged pollution level) in 2002 had increased from 64 to 67%. So, over the whole year, the air pollution in 2002 had improved. Moreover, the air pollution levels at the roadside in 2002 dropped by 6% to 12% as compared with 2001. Motor vehicles are the major cause of our local air pollution. To tackle the problem, the Administration has continued to implement the comprehensive motor vehicle emission control strategy in 2002-03. Specifically, the following are the key programmes: (a) an incentive scheme to encourage the early replacement of diesel taxis by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) taxis, (b) an incentive scheme to encourage the early replacement of diesel light buses by LPG or electric light buses, and (c) a subsidy scheme to install particulate removal devices in large pre-Euro diesel vehicles. The expenditure for the above programmes in 2002-03 is estimated to be $150.1 million. In 2003-04, the above programmes will be continued. We have made a provision of $380.4 million for them. Actions should also be taken to control the regional air pollution. Otherwise, the air quality in Hong Kong will deteriorate in the years ahead as the result of the worsening regional air quality. The Administration has reached a consensus with the Guangdong Provincial Government to aim to reduce, on a best endeavour basis, air pollution in the Pearl River Delta Region to a satisfactory level by 2010. In 2003-04, the following work will be carried out jointly: (a) drawing up a plan for improving regional air quality, (b) evaluating the feasibility of a pilot emission trading scheme for some power stations in the region, (c) establishing and operating a network of regional air quality monitoring stations, (d) developing a handbook for compiling regional emission inventory, (e) compiling the regional emission inventory for year 2001, and (f) conducting technical exchange programmes. Our part of the work is estimated to cost about $6.40 million. Signature Name in block letters ROBERT J. S. LAW Post Title Director of Environmental Protection Date 21 March 2003
Head : 44 Environmental Protection Department Programme : Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04 Reply Serial No. CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION ETWB(E)064 Subhead(No. & title): 000 Operational Expenses Controlling Officer : Director of Environmental Protection Director of Bureau : Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Question Serial No. Question : What is the number of Non-Civil Service Contract (NCSC) staff employed and the expenditure involved in 2002-03? Is there any plan to increase or reduce the employment of NCSC staff in 2003-04? If yes, what are the reasons for the increase or decrease in such employment, and what is the number of NCSC staff and amount of expenditure involved? Asked by : Hon. LEE Cheuk-yan Reply : In 2002-03, the Environmental Protection Department has employed an average number of 230 NCSC staff, and the total expenditure is around $25 Million. In 2003-04, we plan to employ a similar number of NCSC staff. Gototop Signature 1282 Name in block letters ROBERT J. S. LAW Post Title Director of Environmental Protection Date 20 March 2003
Page 1 and 2:
2003-04 Budget: Replies to Question
Page 3 and 4:
Reply Question Serial No. Serial No
Page 5 and 6:
Page 7 and 8:
Page 9 and 10:
Page 11 and 12:
Examination of Estimates of Expendi
Page 13 and 14:
Page 15 and 16:
Page 17 and 18:
Page 19 and 20:
Page 21 and 22:
Page 23 and 24:
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30: Examination of Estimates of Expendi
Page 37 and 38: Head: 42 EMSD Examination of Estima
Page 39 and 40: Dedicated LPG Address Filling Stati
Page 41: Examination of Estimates of Expendi
Page 52 and 53: Head : 44 Environmental Protection
Page 88 and 89: Parsons Brinckerhoff (Asia) Limited
Page 90 and 91: Hong Kong Productivity Council Camp
Page 92 and 93: Gototop The effectiveness of the co
Page 104 and 105: Gototop (b) The number of posts (by
Page 120 and 121: (b) In 2002-03, one Administrative
Page 124 and 125: Name of consultants (if available)
Page 129 and 130: Gototop The ILE comprises the North
Page 131 and 132:
Page 133 and 134:
Page 135 and 136:
part of their portfolio. The estima
Page 137 and 138:
Page 139 and 140:
Page 141 and 142:
Page 143 and 144:
Page 145 and 146:
Page 147 and 148:
Page 149 and 150:
Page 151 and 152:
(b) The Harbour Tour Service (HTS)
Page 153 and 154:
Page 155 and 156:
Page 157 and 158:
Gototop Subhead Item No. - 2 - Desc
Page 159 and 160:
Page 161 and 162:
Page 163 and 164:
Page 165 and 166:
Page 167 and 168:
Page 169 and 170:
Page 171 and 172:
Page 174 and 175:
Page 176 and 177:
Page 178 and 179:
Details of the 68 routes involved i
Page 180 and 181:
Bus Route No. Origin - Destination
Page 182 and 183:
Bus Route No. Origin - Destination
Page 184 and 185:
Gototop Sha Wan. The electricity ex
Page 186 and 187:
Gototop Signature Name in block let
Page 188 and 189:
Gototop (A) Breakdown by rank Rank
Page 190 and 191:
Page 192 and 193:
Page 194 and 195:
Page 196 and 197:
Page 198 and 199:
Gototop (b) One Workman II post was
Page 200:
Head: 42 EMSD Examination of Estima
Page 204 and 205:
Page 206 and 207:
(c) In 2003-04, we plan to delete a
Page 208:
Page 211 and 212:
Page 213 and 214:
Page 215 and 216:
Reply Serial No. Examination of Est
Page 217 and 218:
Establishment & Strength (as at 31.
Page 219 and 220:
Gototop website (http://hkss.ced.go
Page 221 and 222:
Page 223 and 224:
MWH Hong Kong Ltd. Feasibility stud
Page 225 and 226:
Gototop Post Title Permanent Secret
Page 227 and 228:
Page 229 and 230:
Page 231 and 232:
Page 233 and 234:
- 2 - $ million Salary for Director
Page 235 and 236:
Page 237 and 238:
Page 239 and 240:
Page 241 and 242:
Page 243 and 244:
Rank Number of Posts Deleted or Re-
Page 245 and 246:
Page 247 and 248:
Page 249 and 250:
Page 251 and 252:
show all

Replies to Questions from Finance Committee Members

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?