Working Report of

Legislative Councilor Samson Tam Wai Ho

(Information Technology)

(November 2009)

I. Focus Updates

1.    Attended the Second Knowledge Cities Summit
       參與「第二屆世界知識城市峰會」
 

On 5 November, I went to Shenzhen to participate in the Second Knowledge Cities Summit. During the event, I delivered a speech in the forum of “Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle” and also discussed different topics with the guests from the Mainland and overseas. The participants were concerned about the development of Lok Ma Chau Loop as well as the development of the Qianhai Area. I advocated that Hong Kong and Shenzhen should strengthen co-operation on innovation so as to build a knowledge-based cosmopolitan circle. To achieve this aim, the two cities should avoid functional and space duplication. Only with the effective complement of resources allocation by each side, can overseas talents and capitals be attracted to this development.

2. Raised specific suggestions to the Government in CE Policy Address debate
    在施政報告辯論中向政府提出具體建議

Starting from 28 October, there was a 3-day debate in LegCo on the CE’s Policy Address. The main theme of my first session speech was “Developing the Six Industries by Network Technology”. I made two suggestions to the Government: Firstly, to set up a “Science and Technology Strategy Committee” as soon as possible to formulate the blueprint for science and technology development in Hong Kong for the next decade; and to discuss the organization arrangements of the relevant policy bureau such as the re-establishment of the “Science and Technology Bureau”. Secondly, to abolish all barriers so as to speed up science and technology co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen and to explore the Mainland and overseas markets.

The main theme of my second session speech was “Promoting Youth Employment by Creative Industries”. I suggested the Government to extend the concept of the Film Development Fund to other creative industries and give them more opportunities to co-operate with the Government. At the same time, I urged the Government to make the best use of the Creative Industries Fund to implement the “Creative Youth Employment Project” so as to help more young peoples to create a prosperous future.

3. Organized Expert Group meeting to discuss Constitutional Reforms
    召開專家顧問小組政改研討

I organized an Expert Group meeting to discuss constitutional reforms on 3 November. I hope to collect more opinions from the IT industry regarding methods for selecting the CE and for forming the Legislative Council in 2012, so that I could reflect these views at the meeting with the CE. Members expressed different views at the meeting, but the consensus was that the constitutional reform needs to move forward, so that the electoral threshold and the provisions of voter eligibility would see more realization of democracy and the principle of fair participation.

The Government has announced the relevant consultation document and you are welcome to express views before 19 February 2010:

http://www.cmab-cd2012.gov.hk/doc/consultation_document_en.pdf

4.  Passed the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2009 in LegCo
     立法會通過《2009年版權(修訂)條例草案》

At its meeting on 18 November 2009, the Legislative Council passed the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2009. In order to implement the new provisions of 2007, it clearly set out the numeric limits that would not constitute the copying and distribution offence and therefore further improved the Bill.

In the past, the industries, users and the Government had a number of discussions on the implementation of the Bill. Although there were different opinions, they eventually reached a consensus. Being the chairman of the Bills committee, I believe that through consultation the Government has tried its best to set out the numeric limits and a ‘safe port’ to help industries and users to avoid breach of the ordinances due to oversight. For the next phase, the Government should step up education and publicity, so that the public would better understand the Bill.

5. Organized Expert Group meeting to discuss the criminal sanction against copyright infringement across the Internet
    召開專家顧問小組網上侵權刑事化研討會

 

After public consultation and studying overseas experiences and practices, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau has recently put forward an amendment to the 2007 preliminary proposal of strengthening the protection of copyright in the digital environment for further discussion in the Trade and Industry Panel of LegCo. I consulted my Expert Group members and they generally considered that the existing legislation on copyright protection in the digital environment is inadequate, public consultation and publicity by Government are also inadequate. The public lacks awareness of copyright protection in digital environment, therefore they might not fully understand of the Government’s proposal. Our Expert Group members hope that the Government would conduct more public consultation and publicity to ensure that the right balance between copyright protection and the user benefit would be struck in future.

Commerce and Economic Development Bureau has presented the Legislative Council the following document:

http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr09-10/english/panels/ci/papers/ci1117cb1-341-8-e.pdf

II. Articles Sharing (Chinese Only)

1. 協助中小企進入網絡經濟
   《文匯報》 2009年11月27日

2. 循環再用　二手文化
   《星島日報》2009年11月26日

3. 你最想要的機械人
   《星島日報》2009年11月19日

4. 網上榕樹頭
   《星島日報》2009年11月12日

5. 令長者愈老愈聰明
   《星島日報》2009年11月5日

6. 利用創意產業帶動青年就業
   《文匯報》2009年11月2日

7. 台發展六大產業秘密武器
   《星島日報》2009年10月29日