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     Following is a question by the Dr Hon Fernando Cheung and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, in the Legislative Council today (November 27):

Question:

     Regarding the Police Welfare Fund, the Police Children’s Education Trust and the Police Education and Welfare Trust, will the Government inform this Council of the following during the period between June 1 and October 31 this year:

(1) the details of the incomes of the three funds (set out in Tables 1 to 3);
 
Table 1: Income of the Police Welfare Fund

Income	Amount
(i)     General Fund
Donations
Government grant
Hire of police services
Hire of police holiday facilities
Interest income from fixed deposits
Commission on sale of souvenirs by contractor
Miscellaneous receipts
Commission from Staff Purchase Scheme contractor
Exchange gain
(ii)    Police Band Fund
Hire of Police Band
Donations
(iii)   Sir Shiu-kin Tang Donation Fund (1985)
Interest income from fixed deposit
(iv)   Music Bursary Fund
Sale of compact discs

 
Table 2: Income of the Police Children’s Education Trust

Income	Amount
Donations
Interest Income
Dividend income
Gain on disposal of investments
Net exchange gain

 
Table 3: Income of the Police Education and Welfare Trust

Income	Amount
Donations
Interest income
Dividend income
Net exchange gain

 
(2) the details of the expenditures of the three funds (set out in Tables 4 to 6); and
 
Table 4: Expenditure of the Police Welfare Fund

Expenditure	Amount
(i)     General Fund
Formation welfare grants
Grants to Police Tactical Units
Grants to various councils, associations, etc.
Recurrent expenses on police holiday facilities
Grants to police/civilian officers in hardship
Refreshments for police officers on special duties
Police sports activities expenses
Staff relation expenses
Grants on death of serving police/civilian officers         or pensioners
Summer scholarships for police officers’ children
Healthy Lifestyle Strategy Activities
Seminars and Resettlement Training Courses
Grants to junior police officers for further education
Others
Exchange loss
(ii)    Police Band Fund
Distribution of band fees
Purchase and repair of musical instruments
Royalties to Composers and Authors Society of         Hong Kong Limited
Laundry expenses for bandsmen engaged in private         functions
Miscellaneous expenses
Entertainment expenses
(iii)   Sir Shiu-Kin Tang Donation Fund (1985)
General welfare expenses
(iv)   Music Bursary Fund
Expenses on training bandsmen
Miscellaneous expenses
(v)    Further Education Fund
Further education grants to police officers

Table 5: Expenditure of the Police Children’s Education Trust

Expenditure	Amount
Bursaries
Treasurer’s remuneration
Sundry expenses
Net exchange loss

 
Table 6: Expenditure of the Police Education and Welfare Trust

Expenditure	Amount
Bursaries
Treasurer’s remuneration
Sundry expenses
Net exchange loss

 
(3) the details of the donations received by the three funds (set out in tables of the same format as Table 7)?
 
Table 7

Date of receipt of donations	Name of donors/ donating organisations	Amount of donations	Reasons for donation

 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Police Welfare Fund was established under the Police Force Ordinance (PFO) (Cap 232) and is administered in accordance with the Police Force (Welfare Fund) Regulation (Cap 232C). According to PFO, the Police Welfare Fund may be used for purposes including but not limited to providing and maintaining amenities for the use and enjoyment of the beneficiaries; compensating police officers, auxiliary officers and civilian officers for extra services provided by them; making loans to beneficiaries; making grants, allowances and gifts to beneficiaries.

     The Police Children’s Education Trust and the Police Education and Welfare Trust were established and are administered in accordance with the Police Children’s Education Trust Ordinance (Cap 1119) and the Police Education and Welfare Trust Ordinance (Cap 1120) respectively. The Police Children’s Education Trust shall be applied for the following objects: the provision of assistance in, and facilities for, the higher education of the children of junior police officers and for purposes ancillary thereto; and the provision for any such children who are deserving of opportunities for the furtherance of studies. The Police Education and Welfare Trust shall be applied for the following objects: the provision of assistance in, and facilities for, the general education of the children of police officers of all ranks of the Hong Kong Police Force and of the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force; the provision for any such children who are deserving of opportunities for the furtherance of studies; and welfare purposes of general benefit to some or all members of either or both such Forces.
 
     The annual incomes (including donations) and expenditures of the three funds above shall be audited by the Director of Audit in accordance with the relevant legislation, before their statements of accounts are submitted to the Legislative Council (LegCo). The relevant statements of accounts have been uploaded to LegCo’s website.

     My reply to the questions raised by the Member is as follows:
 
(1) and (2) As the 2019-20 financial year has not yet ended, and the incomes (including donations) and expenditures of the three funds have yet been audited, we are not able to provide the accounts of the three funds for this financial year. In line with the established practice, the relevant statements of accounts for 2018-19 will be submitted to LegCo in December this year. The accounts of the three funds for 2017-18 with breakdowns requested in the question are tabulated at Annex.
 
(3) The Police Welfare Fund maintains donation information which members of the public may inspect through the established mechanism put in place by the Police Welfare Fund Management Committee. In this connection, they may approach the secretariat concerned. For the other two funds, there has been no mechanism for public inspection of donation information. Without the consent of the donors, the relevant information would not be disclosed. read more

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, and a delegation comprising business people, professionals and start-up representatives began their visit in Bangkok, Thailand, today (November 27), meeting trade and commerce officials, getting updates on Thailand’s investment opportunities and engaging in a business networking event aimed at forging closer collaboration.

     Upon arrival in Bangkok from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, after a two-day visit there, Mr Yau and the delegation met with the Deputy Minister of Commerce of Thailand, Mr Weerasak Wangsupakitkosol, to learn about the latest economic developments of the country and promote the various unique advantages that Hong Kong can offer as an ideal partner for Thai businesses.

     Mr Yau said that Hong Kong enterprises and professionals are interested in assisting the Thai Government in its active pursuance of various infrastructure projects. The Belt and Road Initiative offers ample opportunities for mutual co-operation and collaboration for both sides, he said, adding that Hong Kong has played a pivotal role in the Initiative. Riding on the various unique advantages as an international financial centre and the rich pool of professionals operating under international standards and practices, Hong Kong is best placed to be the platform for providing the whole spectrum of professional services as well as in facilitating capital flows and project financing, he said.

     Thailand was the third largest trading partner of Hong Kong in merchandise trade among all Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states in 2018, with the total value of merchandise trade amounting to US$19.5 billion.

     Mr Yau and the delegation also attended a briefing jointly organised by the Department of International Trade Promotion of Thailand and a professional services firm on Thailand’s infrastructure market opportunities and its start-up scene.

     Mr Yau will attend a business networking dinner this evening with the Hong Kong business community in Thailand. He will continue his visit programme in Bangkok tomorrow (November 28).

read more

     The Lands Department announced today (November 27) that the tender for a site, Kowloon Inland Lot No. 11262 at the junction of Lin Cheung Road and Austin Road West, Kowloon, has been awarded to the highest tenderer, Century Opa… read more

     Following is a question by the Dr Hon Kwok Ka-ki and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, in the Legislative Council today (November 27):
      
Question:
 
     It has been reported that on the 11th of this month, a traffic police officer, while clearing roadblocks, pulled out his service revolver and pointed it at the chest of a man several feet away.  The two persons then drew close to each other and got into a scuffle.  While grabbing that man in a headlock with his left arm, the traffic police officer pointed his service revolver at another unarmed, black-clad man walking toward him, and fired at him without giving a warning.  The black-clad man was shot and fell to the ground.  Without examining the injuries of the black-clad man who was lying face down on the ground and unresponsive, an anti-riot police officer, who subsequently arrived for reinforcement, used plastic strings to tie the left hand of that man, turned him over and pulled him up to sit on the ground.  The man wounded with the gunshot was subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment and was in a critical condition at one time.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) as Chapter 29 of the Police General Orders stipulates that the level of force to be used by police officers shall be minimal and reasonably required under the prevailing circumstances, whether it has studied if the shooting by the traffic police officer was in breach of the requirement, and whether it has assessed his psychological quality at the time of the incident to see if he was fit to perform duty;
 
(2) if there are guidelines stipulating that police officers must, when making an arrest, gain an understanding about whether an arrestee is injured and the degree of injuries he or she has sustained, as well as how to avoid exacerbating the injuries of an injured person during the arrest; if there are such guidelines, whether it has studied if the aforesaid way of handling by the anti-riot police officer was in breach of the guidelines; and
 
(3) given that the news organisation which videotaped the incident issued a statement criticising the Police for showing the relevant footage at a police press conference without obtaining its consent, and that the footage shown was incomplete, thus failing to let members of the public understand the whole story of the incident, whether the Police will apologise to the news organisation, and whether the Police has assessed the impact of such practice on its credibility?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     It is the Police’s statutory duty to maintain public safety and public order.  When public order and public safety are severely threatened by situations such as illegal road blockage, paralysed traffic, unlawful assemblies and violent charging of police cordon lines, the Police must take appropriate actions to maintain law and order and safeguard public peace.
 
     I must stress that if members of the public express their views in a peaceful, rational and lawful manner, the Police need not use any force.  In fact, the serious violence and illegal acts have caused the death of an innocent citizen whose head was hit by a brick.  Since June 9, this year till November 26, over 2 600 people were injured in large-scale public order events and attended public hospitals for treatment, including a victim who was seriously burnt by a rioter setting inflammable liquid on him.  Among the injured persons, over 470 were police officers whose injuries included cuts, burnt by corrosive liquid, bone fracture, serious burns, injuries by being hit by an arrow, etc.
 
     The Police have stringent rules and guidelines on the use of firearms.  Generally speaking, police officers may use firearms to protect anyone, including themselves, from the threat of death or serious injury.  Besides, police officers will give verbal warnings prior to the use of firearms as far as circumstances permit and, where practicable, give the person(s) being warned every opportunity to obey police orders before using firearms.
      
     Every police officer, whether newly recruited or serving, has to go through rigorous training on the use of force in order to fully understand different legitimate uses of force in a safe and effective manner, in order to achieve the relevant purpose.
      
     Starting from around 6.30am on November 11, rioters set roadblocks with sundries at multiple locations in Hong Kong, wilfully blocking roads and seriously obstructing traffic, including in Cross Harbour Tunnel at Hung Hom towards Hong Kong Island, Tate’s Cairn Tunnel towards Diamond Hill and Tuen Mun Road towards Kowloon.  That day was a Monday.  The illegal acts of the rioters severely affected the public’s daily lives, given that many citizens have to go to work or school during rush hours in particular.
 
     With regard to the police open fire incident that occurred in the Eastern District on Hong Kong Island on November 11, the Police’s investigation is actively going on.  As it involves criminal cases and possible litigation, it is inappropriate for me to comment in detail.  Therefore, whilst answering the Member’s question as far as possible, I can only cite information made public by the Police, and adhere to the principle of not affecting the relevant investigation and judicial proceedings.
 
     My reply to various parts of the question is as follows:
 
(1) At about 7.20am on November 11, a police open fire incident happened in the Eastern District on Hong Kong Island.  At that time, when officers from Traffic Hong Kong Island drove police vehicles past the junction of Shau Kei Wan Road and Tai On Street, they came across illegal roadblocks and thus got off to clear the obstacles.  Officers from the Traffic Branch were not anti-riot police and did not have full protective gear.  At that time, some people at the scene approached the police officer, and got into a fierce scuffle with him, during which a person tried to touch his service revolver.  Taking into account the immense danger posed to the public if his service revolver was snatched and that his life was threatened, the traffic police officer fired a shot which hit a male.
            
     Other people did not stop thereafter and continued to come up to scuffle with the officer and attack him.  As the threat had not been resolved, the officer fired two subsequent shots but hit no one.

     â€‹At the scene, the Police arrested a male for the alleged offence of “attempted robbery of firearms”, and another male for the alleged offences of “attempted robbery of firearms”, “assisting offenders”, “possessing an instrument fit for an unlawful purpose” and “unlawful assembly”.  Investigation of the case is actively on-going.
 
     I must point out that snatching firearms is a serious criminal offence with very dangerous consequences.  Should a revolver fall on the hands of criminals, deaths and injuries may be caused and the consequence is unimaginable.  Upon preliminary investigation, the Police consider that, in view of the pressing situation at the time, the open fire was lawful and reasonable.
 
     The case has been passed to the Regional Crime Unit of Hong Kong Island for investigation.  The officer has received the Post Shooting Mandatory Interview Service offered by the Psychological Services Group of the Force according to the usual Police’s procedures and guidelines.
 
(2) Arrested persons have the right to receive treatment and the Police have a duty to make arrangements.  According to the Police’s guidelines, if an arrested person is injured at the scene of crime or during arrest, that person will be sent directly to the hospital.  Most police officers have received first aid and basic medical training and are able to provide preliminary treatment for injured persons before ambulance personnel arrive at the scene.  In handling injured arrestees, the Police must also consider the safety and security of arrestees.
 
     After the shooting incident, members of the Police Tactical Unit were summoned to the scene as reinforcement, and bound the arrestee with plastic strings on arrival.  Having found the arrestee suffered a gunshot, the officer immediately stopped the action and provided preliminary treatment for the patient before ambulance personnel arrived at the scene.
 
(3) The Police have been committed to providing timely information and assistance to facilitate media reporting by media groups.  When disseminating information, while taking into account the general restrictions, the Police will also consider the severity of the incident and the public’s right to know so as to strike a balance in the overriding public interest.
 
     Having regard to the public concern over the police shooting took place on that day and the various queries on the incident circulating on the Internet, the Police played a video footage showing the incident at the press conference held on the afternoon of the same day.  The related video footage has never been altered by the Police, and the purpose was to clearly explain to the public what happened at that time as early as possible.
 
        Thank you President. read more

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, visited the Trade and Industry Department (TID) today (November 27) and met with staff of various grades to learn more about the department’s work and exchange views on matters of concern. 

     Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Thomas Chow, Mr Law first met with the Director-General of Trade and Industry, Ms Salina Yan, and the directorate staff to get an update on the department’s work in facilitating and supporting the development of trade and industry, enhancing relations with trading partners and supporting Hong Kong’s enterprises, as well as the challenges ahead. 

     Mr Law then visited the Systems Division to understand the processing of applications for the Certificate of Hong Kong Origin – Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CO(CEPA)). He said he was pleased to learn that the TID has been issuing the electronic CO(CEPA) since May 2016, thus providing a prompt and convenient service to enterprises.

     At the Europe Division, Mr Law was briefed on the department’s work in expanding Hong Kong’s free trade agreement and investment agreement networks. He also toured the Support and Consultation Centre for Small and Medium Enterprises under the Industries Support Division to better understand the daily work of front-line colleagues, including the provision of business information and advisory services, and the enhancements to funding schemes to better support Hong Kong enterprises.

     Before concluding his visit, Mr Law met with staff representatives of various grades at a tea gathering to exchange views on issues of concern. He praised colleagues for their dedication and encouraged them to continue to help Hong Kong enterprises diversify other markets and promote Hong Kong’s economic development. read more