Budget 2001-2002 Questions and Answers
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Bureau Serial No.
SB165 Question Serial No. 0408 Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2001-02 CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO WRITTEN/SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department Subhead (No. & title) : Programme : 2 Airport Standards Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Security Question : What will be the expenditure in respect of aviation security measures of the Hong Kong International Airport in the coming year? What is the percentage increase over the expenditure in the previous year? How much of it will be expenses in strengthening security measures? Asked by : Hon LAU Wong-fat Reply : Regarding aviation security measures of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), Civil Aviation Department (CAD) performs the role of the regulator by conducting audit inspections to ensure that the aviation security measures are performed up to the required standard, and the enhancement measures are kept pace with evolving international standards and changing needs of the HKIA. The estimated expenditure of CAD on the regulation of aviation security at HKIA in 2001-02 is $7.4M which are mainly staff costs and the provision is the same as that in 2000-01. The expenditure for the day-to-day operations of aviation security at the HKIA are paid by the Airport Authority. The day-to-day operations are performed by its subsidiary company the Aviation Security Co. Ltd. Other parties including airlines, airport tenant restricted area operators and regulated agents for cargo are required by law (Aviation Security Ordinance) to establish and implement security programmes and they are responsible for their own expenditure in these aspects. Signature: Bureau Serial No. Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2001-02 CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO WRITTEN/SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department Subhead (No. & title) : Programme : 2 Airport Standards Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Economic Services Question : The document has revealed four new targets and one new indicator under the programme of Airport Standards, which cover the processing of applications for carriage of dangerous goods and munitions by air and the inspection of the goods and munitions concerned. The workload in other areas has more or less increased. At the same time, there is a reduction in expenditure amounting to $0.5 million, or 1.8% of the total amount, as a result of the Enhanced Productivity Programme (EPP). Will the Government inform us of the following: (a) Whether the department has employed any professionals with specific skills to process applications for carriage of dangerous goods and munitions and inspect the goods and munitions concerned? If yes, what is the number of such staff employed? Is the number sufficient to cope with the daily operations at the airport to ensure passenger safety? (b) While expenditure is reduced through the EPP, the workload of the department has increased. What changes have been made to the daily work flow of the department? Has the number of staff been reduced or working hours extended as a result of the EPP? Will the reduction affect airport safety? Asked by : Hon IP Kwok-him Reply : (a) Three Operations Officers with suitable training and expertise are deployed to perform the duties of regulating the air transport of dangerous goods (DG) and munitions of war (MUW). This is considered adequate to monitor the day to day operation relating to the safety of air transport of DG and MUW. (b) It is anticipated that the working procedures of the Airport Standards Division would not have any significant changes in 2001-02 except for a streamlining of the administrative procedures with a view to enhancing productivity. The increase in workload would be absorbed by the existing staff. There would not be any deletion of posts nor increase in staff working hours resulting from the Enhanced Productivity Programme (EPP). In fact the reduction in expenditure relating to EPP such as energy-saving measures will not impair the operational efficiency of the Division and will not affect the monitoring of the safety standards of the Hong Kong International Airport. Signature: Bureau Serial No. Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2001-02 CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO WRITTEN/SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department Subhead (No. & title) : Programme : 6 Air Passenger Departure Tax (APDT) Administration Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation Bureau Secretary : Secretary for the Treasury Question : What is the provision for 2001-02 for administering the Air Passenger Departure Tax (APDT) collection? Asked by : Hon Howard YOUNG Reply : The cost for administering the Air Passenger Departure Tax (APDT) collection under Head 28 Civil Aviation Department (CAD) in 2001-02 is $1.6M which mainly covers staff costs. In addition, a provision of $41.7M is made under Head 106 Miscellaneous Services in 2001-02 for the payment to airlines and the CAD's agent in respect of the collection and the processing of exemption and refund of the APDT. Signature:Name in block letters: 26 April 2001 The Honorable Howard YOUNG, Dear Mr. Young, Air Passenger Departure Tax (APDT) Thank you for your question raised on 9 March 2001 in respect of APDT which was reproduced below for ease of reference. Although the question was ruled out of order by the Chairman of the Finance Committee, I am happy to provide the reply as follows: Question: Will Government consider changing the APDT to Airport Service Charge for improving airport services? Reply: The Air Passenger Departure Tax is purely a fiscal measure to provide a steady source of recurrent revenue for the Government. It has never been a charge for the provision or improvement of airport services. We have no plan to change it into a service charge. Yours sincerely, (Albert K Y LAM) Director-General of Civil Aviation |
