Revue de presse du 4 mars 2010

 Parties call for more stringent measures to curb property speculation

Apple Daily in an inside-page lead said various political parties took the view that the intensity of the four measures proposed in the Budget to ensure a healthy and stable development of the property market could not curb property speculation and skyrocketing property prices. The parties called on the Government to review the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) to avoid huge inflow of hot money from the Mainland to the local property market.

Democratic Party legislator Lee Wing-tat said that the party would assess the effectiveness of the four measures in a month and would call on Financial Secretary John Tsang to introduce more stringent measures during the Budget debate if the Budget measures were proved to be ineffective.

While saying that the Government should increase housing unit supply to tackle the problem at source, he added that imposing restrictions on entrants’ investment portfolio in the property market would also be feasible.

A Government source told the paper that the Government would consider any suggestions to ensure the healthy development of the property market and that the Government had introduced various measures to prevent the drastic increase in property prices, including putting up the unsold sandwich class flats for sales.

Meanwhile, The Sun in a full-page report and the Oriental Daily News in moderate coverage said that the Pilot Employment Navigator Programme proposed in the Budget was « doomed to failure » as it could not motivate and retain employees.

 HA to consider putting more HOS flats on market

Ming Pao in its lead story reported that the Housing Authority (HA) was considering offering the remaining 4,000 Home Ownership Scheme units for sale in view of the overwhelming response to the 464 « sandwich class » flats at the Pinnacle in Tseung Kwan O.

The papers in prominent coverage, with Sing Tao Daily and the HK Daily News in their front-page leads, noted that at least 25,000 application forms for the Pinnacle flats were snapped up by home hunters yesterday and more than 1,500 people had inspected the show flat.

It was understood that the Government was willing to discuss the possibility of putting up for sale all the residual HOS flats at one go in the middle of this year at an HA meeting later this month if requested by members, Ming Pao reported.

Furthermore, the Transport and Housing Bureau was also studying ways to subsidise low-income middle class to purchase a home but held that any measures would have to take into account the property market situation and to differentiate genuine home buyers from investors, the paper reported, quoting sources.

HA members Fred Li and Ip Kwok-him both confirmed that it was likely for the authority to discuss the sale of HOS flats, estimating that if given the green light, the flats could go to the market as early as May or June.

Meanwhile, the HK Economic Times in an inside-page lead reported that developers had rushed in submitting new building plans for approval before the Government introduced any new measure to control the construction of buildings with inflated floor areas.

The paper noted that Henderson Land had submitted the plans for 20 construction sites from their land reserves in the hope to « catch the last train » that would enable them to enjoy the « final concessions » granted for green features.

 Motion calling for voting in Legco by-elections voted down

The papers in good coverage, with a few in their inside-page leads, reported that the motion moved by Civic Party’s Audrey Eu urging the public to vote in the upcoming Legco by-elections was voted down in Legco yesterday.

Pro-establishment lawmakers including DAB’s Ip Kwok-him and FTU’s Wong Kwok-hing criticised the de facto referendum for wasting public money. Mr Ip called on the public to boycott the by-elections by not contesting and voting.

LP chairman Miriam Lau said it was unreasonable that places for hanging publicity banners in the districts had to be vacated for by-election candidates, asking the authorities to follow up on the matter.

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam said the Government would not recognise the results of any form of so-called « referendum » and would consider amending the law to prevent lawmakers from abusing the resignation mechanism.

He also urged legislators to face the political reality, adding that seeking progress in the 2012 electoral methods would be the most practical action.

In a Legco meeting yesterday, legislators urged the Government to consider reforming the current voting system in the legislature which had been criticised for giving the Functional Constituencies disproportionate veto power.

Mr Lam said the Government would not consider any change to the mechanism, adding that it was the key to preserving an « executive-led system » and ensuring « balanced participation » as required by the BL.

Meanwhile, the papers reported that Chinese People Political Consultative Conference chairman Jia Qinglin, in delivering the annual work report of the conference at the opening of its annual plenary session yesterday, urged HK and Macao delegates to enhance communication with major local political and civil groups.

Mr Cheung took the view that Mr Jia’s remarks indicated that the CPPCC hoped the HK delegates would communicate with the pan-democrats in HK more proactively in a bid to resolve the constitutional reform issue.

Quoting sources, Ming Pao said President Hu Jintao would meet with HK and Macao delegates on Sunday. It was expected that important messages on HK’s constitutional development would be delivered at the meeting, with a view to facilitating different sectors in HK to support the SARG’s constitutional reform proposal.

 SCMA, SCED to visit Taichung City

Some papers in moderate coverage reported that SCMA Stephen Lam and Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau would lead a delegation to visit Taichung City from March 5 to 7. The delegation would attend the « Hong Kong Night » variety show organised by the SARG on March 6.

Reports noted that the visit would focus on enhancing exchanges and cooperation with Taichung on tourism matters. The HK Economic Journal speculated that the delegation would meet with Taichung mayor Jason Hu.

Some papers understood that the visit also aimed at paving the way for a subsequent visit by FS John Tsang, who had disclosed in the Budget his wish to lead a delegation to Taiwan to discuss bilateral cooperation.

 Voluntary medical insurance scheme proposed

The HK Economic Times reported in its inside-page lead that the Government planned to consult the public in September at the earliest on its plan to implement a standard medical insurance package.

The paper said the Government intended to allocate $50 billion to roll out a voluntary medical insurance scheme with a “saving component”(儲蓄成分). Designed to address the “deficiencies” in existing medical insurance plans, the proposed scheme would cover all pre-existing medical conditions.

It was believed that the next term of Government would introduce legislation on the scheme, the paper said.

 Reshuffle for senior Government officials

Quoting sources, Sing Tao Daily in an inside-page lead reported that Permanent Secretary of the CE’s Office Elizabeth Tse would be promoted to Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development to replace Duncan Pescod who would take up the post of Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing).

The paper noted that the current PSTH (Housing) Thomas Chan would retire at the end of this month and that Ms Tse’s post would be filled by Private Secretary to the CE Kenneth Mak.

DD for Treasury Bernadette Linn would succeed Mr Mak starting next month and DD of Food and Environmental Hygiene Alice Yim would fill Ms Linn’s current post, the paper added.

Meanwhile, the papers reported widely that Privacy Commissioner Roderick Woo issued a statement yesterday, saying that he had made it clear in a meeting with SCMA Stephen Lam that he did not want to be considered for re-appointment following the completion of his current tenure in July, meaning that he was going to step down after five years of service.

A Government spokesman said it respected Mr Woo’s decision. Details about the appointment of the next privacy commissioner would be announced shortly, the spokesman added.

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