*************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon James Tien and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, in the Legislative Council today (June 22):
Question:
In reply to my question in June last year, the Secretary for Security said that the authorities were reviewing the coverage of the entire Frontier Closed Area (FCA), while the Police had drawn up proposed arrangements for opening up the Sha Tau Kok pier and consulted local residents in August 2003. However, the relevant arrangements and implementation timetable have not been announced yet. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of a chronological account and the latest progress of the work undertaken for the opening up of the Sha Tau Kok pier since August 2003, as well as why the relevant arrangements and implementation timetable have not been announced;
(b) whether it will consider taking on board the views of local residents that the entire Sha Tau Kok Market within the boundaries of Hong Kong should be opened up to promote economic recovery and employment opportunities in the area; if it will not, of the reasons for that; and
(c) of the timing for announcing the outcome of the review of the FCA coverage and the timetable for opening up the Sha Tau Kok FCA?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The Government has adopted a proactive approach to and examined feasible options of opening up the Sha Tau Kok pier to facilitate tourism development. In this respect, our principle is, without affecting boundary security, a limited number of tour groups may be allowed to use the Sha Tau Kok pier to access Kat O and other neighbouring islands for sightseeing during weekends and public holidays. To implement these arrangements, appropriate security measures need to be put in place to ensure that the Police can continue to maintain an effective management of the boundary area.
In this regard, we proposed in August 2003 opening up the Sha Tau Kok pier and the area to the east of Shun Hing Street. Local residents were consulted on the proposal through the North District Office. Subsequently, we learned that some local residents had reservations on the security measures concerned and therefore did not accept the proposal.
Having regard to the views of Sha Tau Kok residents, we proposed in July 2004 the implementation of a revised proposal, under which the Sha Tau Kok pier and the adjacent carpark would be opened up for use by tour groups taking ferries to Kat O, etc. We also met with the District Council (DC) members concerned and representatives of the Sha Tau Kok Rural Committee in December 2004 to explain to them the above two proposals and exchange views with them.
In addition, at the invitation of the DC members concerned and representatives of the Sha Tau Kok Rural Committee, we had another two meetings with them in May 2004 and May 2005 respectively. We listened to their views and explained to them our security concerns on Sha Tau Kok as well as the security considerations involved in our proposals. We also reiterated that in opening up Sha Tau Kok to facilitate tourism development in the area, we had the responsibility to maintain an effective boundary management so as to strike a proper balance between these two needs.
Since up to now Sha Tau Kok residents still have reservations on the above two proposals of opening up of the Sha Tau Kok pier, the Administration has not been able to implement either arrangement.
(b) We understand Sha Tau Kok residents' request for a full opening of the Sha Tau Kok Town. However, the Administration has the responsibility to consider how this will affect boundary security. Chung Ying Street within Sha Tau Kok is an "open" boundary without any physical barriers or formal immigration and customs facilities. Given this unique geographical setting and that smuggled goods such as meat, cigarettes and counterfeit merchandise as well as illegal immigrants are frequently intercepted in Sha Tau Kok, the law enforcement agencies have grave security concerns about the area. If the entire Sha Tau Kok area is to be opened up without appropriate security measures put in place, the area will be exposed to considerable security risks which will not be conducive to the local law and order situation and an effective boundary management. Therefore, the Administration has grave reservations on the proposal to open up the entire Sha Tau Kok area.
(c) At present, the Frontier Closed Area (FCA) covers an area of about 2,800 hectares, including Sha Tau Kok's 28 hectares. We note that in recent years there has been much discussion in the community on the policy for the FCA. Having regard to the security considerations on the FCA (including Sha Tau Kok) and community concerns, we have conducted a review of the coverage of the FCA. The review shows that, from the security perspective, there is room for reducing the coverage of the FCA. The details involved need to take into account issues relating to planning, transport, land use, development needs, environment and infrastructure. The Administration is at the final stage of the internal study of and discussions on the details and impact of reducing the FCA coverage. We will brief the Legislative Council and interested parties on the outcome of the review and related matters as soon as the work is completed.
Ends/Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Issued at HKT 15:01
NNNN
