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

Question:

     Since the eruption of the "anti-extradition to China" movement in June this year, the Police have fired thousands of tear gas rounds to disperse demonstrators. It has been reported that on the 2nd of this month, a volunteer first-aider was allegedly shot by a tear gas round made in China which resulted in serious burns on his back. Besides, as measured by some reporters at the scenes of conflicts, the temperature of the sparks discharged during combustion of tear gas rounds was as high as 252 degrees Celsius, which can set alight miscellaneous objects and cause second degree burns in human bodies. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
      
(1) of the total number of tear gas rounds fired by the Police since June this year, and in respect of the 10 days on which the largest quantities of tear gas rounds were fired, the (i) relevant dates, (ii) quantities of tear gas rounds fired and (iii) locations where they were fired;
 
(2) whether, at present, the Police have procured tear gas rounds which are not made in China; if so, (a) of the places of origin of such tear gas rounds, and (b) how such tear gas rounds compare with those which are made in China in the following aspects: (i) composition, (ii) velocity of explosion, (iii) power (including the functions, effects and the highest temperature during combustion), and (iv) possible impacts on human health (set out in a table); if not, the reasons for that;
 
(3) whether the Police have, before procurement, conducted tests for the tear gas rounds made in China on the various aspects mentioned in (2); if so, of the details of the test results; and
 
(4) whether the Police have issued guidelines to police officers, relevant government departments, public organisations and members of the public in respect of how to clean up tear gas residue at the scenes where tear gas rounds have been fired and how to deal with the aftermath; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:

President,

     The Police have a statutory duty to maintain public safety and public order.  When public order and public safety are severely threatened by situations such as illegal blockage of roads, 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.  If the public express their views in a peaceful and lawful manner, there would be no need for the Police to use any force.
 
     Since early June 2019 up till now, more than 900 protests, processions and public assemblies have been staged in Hong Kong, and many of them ended up as violent illegal activities.  In the past five months or so, rioters repeatedly committed serious unlawful acts including wantonly blocking roads, paralysing the traffic, hurling petrol bombs and bricks and setting fire at different locations, vandalising and burning shops and MTR and Light Rail facilities with intent, and violently assaulting people holding different opinions.  These acts have seriously threatened personal safety, as well as public order and public safety.  To curb  violent illegal acts, the Police had to take actions to bring rioters to justice or disperse the crowds and control the situations so as to restore public safety and public order.
      
     My reply to Professor Hon Joseph Lee’s question is as follows:
      
(1) Tear gas is a crowd dispersal equipment, the purpose of which is to stop people from gathering or conducting illegal acts.  Since June up till now, the Police have used around 10 000 rounds of tear gas.  The use of tear gas by the Police is in response to the prevailing situation, the location and extent of using it depend on rioters’ violent acts and circumstances at the scene.  Details on the 10 days with the highest number of tear gas being used are at Annex.  According to police records, rioters committed acts of vandalism and violence in various parts of Hong Kong during the listed days.  As a result, the Police need to take appropriate action, including the use of tear gas for dispersal, in order to curb acts of violence and illegal acts.
 
(2) and (3) On the procurement of equipment and ammunitions, the Police have been sourcing globally for safe and suitable equipment and ammunitions in accordance with the established procedures to meet their operational needs.  The tear gas procured by the Police has passed safety tests for ensuring that the stability and safety of such ammunitions comply with relevant specifications.
 
     As the procurement details of the equipment used by the Police involve operational deployment, it would be inappropriate to disclose such details as it would affect the Police’s operational capability.  The Police will continue the safe use of tear gas in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and internal ones.
 
(4) In general, post-exposure symptoms to tear gas may include burning sensation to the skin and eyes, coughing, sneezing and temporary breathing difficulty resulted from irritation to the nose and throat.  These symptoms will usually subside after a short period of time.
 
     I must reiterate that it is not for the Police to choose the location to use tear gas against violence or illegal acts, but depends on the rioters who committed violence or illegal acts and where they choose to commit such acts.
      
     The Police understand the community's concerns about the use of tear gas near residential area, and will take into account the safety and interests of the affected people as far as possible when using the tear gas.  Before the operation, the Police will, as far as possible, maintain close contact with the nearby building management offices, commercial tenants and elderly homes through various channels to remind them of the Police's possible actions in relation to the demonstrations so that they can make arrangements accordingly.  During the operation, the Police will also appeal to residents in the vicinity to pay attention to the situation through social media and press releases, and to close the windows and stay in a safe place indoors if necessary.
      
     The Government fully understands the community’s concern about the impacts of tear gas on the environment and physical health.  The Department of Health has uploaded health information on tear gas to the Centre for Health Protection webpage for public reference.  In general, health effects of tear gas depend on a number of factors such as specific chemical composition of the tear gas, duration and dose of exposure to tear gas, exposure route, health conditions of the individuals and the physical environment during exposure.  Individuals with persistent post-exposure symptoms to tear gas should promptly consult healthcare professionals.  The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has also issued guidelines to its staff and cleansing contractors, which include matters for attention and personal protective gear in respect of removal of chemical residues.
    

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     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 27) that Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Swimming Pool in Yuen Long District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 6.30am tomorrow (November 28).

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.

     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

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

 
Table 3: Income of the Police Education and Welfare Trust

 
(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

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

 
Table 6: Expenditure of the Police Education and Welfare Trust

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

 
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.

     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).

      

     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 Opal Limited and Max Century (H.K.) Limited (parent company: Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited), on a 50-year land grant at a premium of $42,232,000,000.

     The tenderers, other than the successful tenderer, in alphabetical order, with the name of the parent company where provided by the tenderer in brackets, were:
 
(1) City Champion Investments Limited (CK Asset Holdings Limited); and
(2) Novel Icon Limited (Chinese Estates Holdings Limited, Henderson Land Development Company Limited, Lifestyle International Holdings Limited, Sino Land Company Limited and Wharf Estates Limited).

     Kowloon Inland Lot No. 11262 has a site area of about 59,746 square metres and is designated for non-industrial (excluding residential, godown and petrol filling station but including hotel) purposes. The minimum gross floor area and the maximum gross floor area are 176,400 sq m and 294,000 sq m respectively.