9
A person who furnishes any false or misleading information in a material particular in connection with a claim commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 5 and of imprisonment for three months.
We propose that, except as provided in the Bill, all rights against the Government under a land exchange entitlement shall be extinguished on redemption. The legislation shall come into operation on a day to be appointed by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands.
Following the enactment of the Bill, we will seek in due course the approval of the Finance Committee of this Council for the creation of a new subhead under Head 701 - Land Acquisition of the Capital Works Reserve Fund for the payment of redemption money.
Mr President, the New Territories Land Exchange Entitlements (Redemption) Bill is aimed to achieve a practical and fair solution to deal with the outstanding Letters A/B. It crystallises Government's commitments in respect of the untraceable entitlements and helps persuade holders of the other remaining Letters A/B to exchange their entitlements for land as soon as possible. I commend it to Members for favourable consideration.
Thank you, Mr President.
End
Government Minute on Public Accounts Committee's report
Following is the speech by the acting Chief Secretary, Mr Michael Suen, in presenting the Government Minute in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday) in response to Report No 25A of the Public Accounts Committee:
Mr President,
Laid on the table today is the Government Minute responding to the Public Accounts Committee Report No 25A on the subject of "the review of the housing benefits provided by the Hospital Authority to its employees".
Let me, first of all, express my appreciation of the hard work of the Committee in performing its role as a "watchdog" over public expenditure. As always, the Administration attaches great importance to the work of the PAC and has examined very carefully its conclusions and recommendations made in the Report.