Reply Serial No.
SB 158
Question Serial No.
0266

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme : (2) Airport Standards

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Security

Question :

What new measures or plans will be in place to ensure that the Hong Kong International Airport meets the required safety and security standards? Will the Administration decide, in the light of the risk assessments of terrorist attack in Hong Kong, to increase the staffing provision to ensure the security of the Airport?

Asked by : Hon. LAU Kong-wah

Reply :

The Hong Kong International Airport has already met the safety and security standards by the Convention on International Civil Aviation. However, the following new initiatives or programmes will still be implemented by the Civil Aviation Department in order to maintain Hong Kong’s leading position in aviation security in the Region.

a. to organise seminars/promotional campaigns and to produce promotional publications and video CDs for enhancing the awareness of aviation security;

b. to organise training courses on aviation security and dangerous goods for the aviation industry;

c. to strengthen the inspections of the regulated agents in relation to air cargo;

d. to strengthen the establishment and provide additional resources to the Aviation Security Section to cope with increasing demand on aviation security regulatory works; and

e. to attend International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Aviation Security Panel, ICAO Asia Pacific Region Aviation Security Conferences, Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Transport Security Expert Conferences; and to provide support as aviation expert to facilitate the enhancement of the standard of aviation security in the Region.

The Civil Aviation Department regularly examines the adequacy of security measures of the Hong Kong International Airport. The Police and the Aviation Security Company Limited will, in the light of the threat assessment of terrorist attack in Hong Kong, deploy additional resources to ensure the security of the Airport when necessary.

Signature:
Name in block letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 20 March 2003

Reply Serial No.
EDLB(ED)001
Question Serial No.
0365

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme : (1) Flight Standards

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question :

Under Matter Requiring Special Attention in 2003-04, the department will continue to monitor the implementation of cockpit security enhancement programmes of Hong Kong aircraft operators. What is the detail of the programmes and how much provision has been allocated?

Asked by : Hon. YOUNG, Howard

Reply :

During 2003-04, Civil Aviation Department (CAD) will continue to monitor the implementation of cockpit security enhancement programmes of Hong Kong aircraft operators.

In accordance with new standards for cockpit security promulgated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, CAD issued a Flight Operations Notice in August 2002 requiring all Hong Kong registered passenger aircraft with a maximum certified take-off mass in excess of 45 500 kg or with a passenger seating capacity greater than 60 to be equipped with an approved flight-crew compartment door of a reinforced standard, including a surveillance system, by 1 November 2003. CAD will continue to monitor local airlines’ implementation of measures to meet the above requirement and provide advice as necessary.

CAD will also approve security-training programmes submitted by operators of Hong Kong registered aircraft. Operators are required to maintain such programmes to ensure that crew members will act in the most appropriate manner to minimize the effects of acts of unlawful interference by passengers

The Flight Standards Division of CAD is responsible for the above work, among others. The total allocation to the Flight Standards Division for 2003-04 is $56.2 million. No additional provision will be allocated specifically for monitoring the implementation of cockpit security enhancement programmes of Hong Kong aircraft operators. The work will be undertaken by existing staff.

Signature:
Name in block letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 21 March 2003

Reply Serial No.
EDLB(ED)001
Question Serial No.
0366

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme : (2) Airport Standards

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Security

Question :

What new measures or plans will be in place to ensure that the Hong Kong International Airport meets the required safety and security standards? Will the Administration decide, in the light of the risk assessments of terrorist attack in Hong Kong, to increase the staffing provision to ensure the security of the Airport?

Asked by : Hon. LAU Kong-wah

Reply :

The Hong Kong International Airport has already met the safety and security standards by the Convention on International Civil Aviation. However, the following new initiatives or programmes will still be implemented by the Civil Aviation Department in order to maintain Hong Kong’s leading position in aviation security in the Region.

a. to organise seminars/promotional campaigns and to produce promotional publications and video CDs for enhancing the awareness of aviation security;

b. to organise training courses on aviation security and dangerous goods for the aviation industry;

c. to strengthen the inspections of the regulated agents in relation to air cargo;

d. to strengthen the establishment and provide additional resources to the Aviation Security Section to cope with increasing demand on aviation security regulatory works; and

e. to attend International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Aviation Security Panel, ICAO Asia Pacific Region Aviation Security Conferences, Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Transport Security Expert Conferences; and to provide support as aviation expert to facilitate the enhancement of the standard of aviation security in the Region.

The Civil Aviation Department regularly examines the adequacy of security measures of the Hong Kong International Airport. The Police and the Aviation Security Company Limited will, in the light of the threat assessment of terrorist attack in Hong Kong, deploy additional resources to ensure the security of the Airport when necessary.

Signature:
Name in block letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 20 March 2003

Reply Serial No.
EDLB(ED)003
Question Serial No.
0367

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme : (5) Air Services

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question :

Under Matter Requiring Special Attention in 2003-04, the department will continue to provide necessary support to heliport development. Will the Administration inform this Committee what resources are provided for supporting helicopter services in order to promote its development?

Asked by : Hon. YOUNG, Howard

Reply :

Various divisions in the Civil Aviation Department are involved in supporting the development of helicopter services, among other duties. The Air Services Division monitors the demand for commercial helicopter services and undertakes strategic planning for the development of heliports and other supporting facilities. The Flight Standards and Airworthiness Division, Airport Standards Division and the Air Traffic Management Division regulate helicopter operations such as licensing and safety standards. They also provide technical advice to helicopter operators when necessary

Signature:
Name in block letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 21 March 2003

Reply Serial No.
EDLB(ED)004
Question Serial No.
0368

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme : (5) Air Services

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question :

Provision for 2003-04 is $1.4 million (6.2%) higher than the revised estimate for 2002-03. One of the reasons for such increase is due to the additional resources required for the study on heliport development. Please specify what are these resources.
Asked by :Hon. YOUNG, Howard

Asked by : Hon. YOUNG, Howard

Reply :

Of the $1.4 million increase in provision, $1.2 million is budgeted for possible technical feasibility studies that may be required for the identification of potential sites for heliports and helicopter supporting facilities.

Signature:
Name in block letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 21 March 2003

Reply Serial No.
SB159
Question Serial No.
0369

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme : (2) Airport Standards

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Security

Question :

Provision for 2003-04 is $4.0 million (13.1%) higher than the revised estimate for 2002-03. One of the reasons for such increase is due to the additional provision to implement various initiatives to enhance aviation security. Will the Administration inform this Committee, what are these initiatives and how much provision has been allocated?

Asked by : Hon. YOUNG Howard

Reply :

A provision of $3.12 million has been earmarked for the following initiatives to enhance aviation security :

Signature:
Name in bock letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 21 March 2003

Reply Serial No.
FSTB(T)085
Question Serial No.
0370

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme : (6) Air Passenger Departure Tax Administration

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury

Question :

It is estimated that the number of Airport Passenger Departure taxpayers for the next financial year will be 11,371,000. How much of this is expected to generate from local residents and visitors respectively?

Asked by : Hon. YOUNG Howard

Reply :

We do not have any estimate of the breakdown of Air Passenger Departure taxpayers between local residents and visitors. However, according to statistics for 2002, the percentage of local residents and visitors were 42% and 58% respectively

Signature:
Name in block letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 20 March 2003

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme : (6) Air Passenger Departure Tax Administration

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury

Question :

The number of Airport Passenger Departure Tax exemptions in 2002 is only increased by 0.8% to 12,196 when compared with the year of 2001. However, it is estimated that the coming fiscal year is 12,700 which is 4.1% higher than the year of 2002. What accounts for this increased estimate?

Asked by : Hon. YOUNG Howard

Reply :

The number of Air Passenger Departure Tax exemptions is about 0.11% of the number of taxpayers over the past three years. The same basis is adopted for the estimation of the number of exemptions for 2003.

Signature:
Name in block letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 20 March 2003

Reply Serial No.
EDLB(ED)005
Question Serial No.
0372

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme : (3) Air Traffic Management

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question :

Provision for 2003-04 is HK$11.7 million (4.4%) higher than the revised estimate for 2002-03 which is partly due to salary increments for staff. What is the detail of the rates of increments?

Asked by : Hon. YOUNG, Howard

Reply :

The salary provision budgeted under Programme (3) Air Traffic Management is $232.1 million and $2.401 million of this provision is to provide for salary increments for staff. The salary increments represent 1% of the salary provision under this Programme.

Signature:
Name in block letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 20 March 2003

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme : (4) Engineering and Systems

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question :

Provision for 2003-04 is HK$27.7 million (10.5%) higher than the revised estimate for 2002-03 which is partly due to salary increments for staff. What is the detail of the rates of increments?

Asked by : Hon. LAU Kong-wah

Reply :

The salary provision budgeted under Programme (4) Engineering and Systems is $56.3 million and $0.582 million of this provision is to provide for salary increments for staff. The salary increments represent 1% of the salary provision under this Programme.

Signature:
Name in block letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 20 March 2003

Reply Serial No.
EDLB(ED)007
Question Serial No.
0428

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme : (1) Flight Standards

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question :

Provision for 2003-04 is $6.4 million (12.9%) higher than the revised estimate for 2002-03. One of the reasons is due to the establishment of the Air Traffic Management Standards Office to function as a regulator overseeing the safety and efficiency of air traffic control operation. Will the Administration inform this Committee how much provision has been allocated for this office? Please provide the breakdown of expenditure.

Asked by : Hon. YOUNG, Howard

Reply :

The Air Traffic Management Standards Office is established through internal redeployment of staff. In 2003-04 about $3.14 million will be required to meet the salary requirement. The breakdown is as follows

Signature:
Name in block letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 20 March 2003

Reply Serial No.
SB160
Question Serial No.
0488

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme : (2) Airport Standards

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Security

Question :

In the light of political instability in the international arena, an additional provision of $4 m is required by the Civil Aviation Department to implement various initiatives to enhance aviation security, including promotional activities and enhanced inspections for the coming year. In this connection, could the Government inform this Council of the details regarding such promotional activities and strengthened inspections; the provision required by each activity and inspection; and the comparison of security level with other places after the implementation of the enhanced initiatives?

Asked by : Hon. CHAN Kam-lam

Reply :

The Civil Aviation Department’s expenditure on promotional activities and strengthened inspections for enhancing aviation security for the coming year is around $3.12 m, which includes:

Hong Kong’s aviation security has complied with the standards laid down by the Convention on International Civil Aviation, and the aviation security requirements laid down by the Civil Aviation Department are widely used as reference by other countries in the region. The implementation of the enhanced initiatives will strengthen Hong Kong’s leading position in aviation security.

Signature:
Name in block letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 20 March 2003

Reply Serial No.
EDLB(ED)008
Question Serial No.
0489

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme : (3) Air Traffic Management

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question :

Will the Government inform this Committee of the data regarding the anticipated air traffic services demand for which the Civil Aviation Department needs to recruit air traffic control officers; the intended number of officers to be recruited; and the ranks and salary level of the new recruits?

Asked by : Hon. CHAN Kam-lam

Reply :

Over the next five years, Hong Kong’s air passenger and cargo traffic is forecast to grow respectively at an average annual rate of 5% and 6.5% whereas the number of aircraft movements and aircraft overflying Hong Kong will grow respectively by 5% and 3%. Regarding the staff establishment in Civil Aviation Department (CAD), 53 Air Traffic Control Officers will retire over the next ten years. This represents about 23% of the present establishment.

In order to handle the anticipated growth in the demand for air traffic control services and to ensure timely replacement of the officers who will retire, CAD plans to apply for an exemption from the freeze of recruitment to the civil service and recruit ten Student Air Traffic Control Officers in 2003-04. The new recruit will receive 7-year on-the-job training and obtain the relevant professional qualifications. If the application is approved, the monthly salary of the planned new recruits is $13,670.

Signature:
Name in block letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 21 March 2003

Reply Serial No.
EDLB(ED)009
Question Serial No.
0788

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme : (5) Air Services

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question :

In the face of the noise problem caused by flights after midnight, will the Government engage more manpower and resources in 2003-04 to monitor the problem so as to mitigate the nuisance caused to residents by aircraft noise? If yes, what are the measures and how to ensure their effectiveness?

Asked by : Hon. CHAN Wai-yip, Albert

Reply :

In 2003-04, Civil Aviation Department (CAD) will enhance the “Aircraft Noise and Flight Track Monitoring System”. The estimated cost for the upgrading work is $1.5 million.
 
CAD will continue to implement existing aircraft noise mitigation measures and closely monitor aviation technology developments at the international level with a view to minimizing the impact of aircraft noise. We will use existing staff in CAD to monitor aircraft noise.

Signature:
Name in block letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 21 March 2003

Reply Serial No.
EDLB(ED)010
Question Serial No.
1122

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme : (3) Air Traffic Management; (4) Engineering and Systems

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question :

An additional of $11.7m and $27.7m is required by the Civil Aviation Department under Programme (3) Air Traffic Management Programme (4) Engineering and Systems, representing an increase of 4.4% and 10.5% respectively. Please give a detailed account of the increase in the establishment and the equipment to be procured?

Asked by : Hon. CHEUNG Man-kwong

Reply :

In 2003-04, CAD plans to apply for an exemption from the freeze of recruitment to the civil service and recruit ten Student Air Traffic Control Officers under Programme (3) Air Traffic Management. The new recruits will receive 7-year on-the-job training and obtain the relevant professional qualifications. These new recruits are required to replace Air Traffic Control Officers who will retire and to handle the anticipated growth in the demand for air traffic control services.

The existing air traffic control system has been in use for over five years. To ensure that Hong Kong’s air traffic control system continues to provide safe and high level of services, CAD has to procure or upgrade the following equipment and systems:

1. radar data processing and display system;
2. flight data processing system;
3. automatic message switching system;
4. speech processing equipment;
5. liquid crystal display radar monitor; and
6. leasing of secondary surveillance radar and very high frequency
7. communications facilities at Xisha.

Signature:
Name in block letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 21 March 2003

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme : (2) Airport Standards and (3) Air Traffic Management

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question :

As mentioned in the document, one of the reasons for the increase in the estimated expenditure under Programme (2) Airport Standards and Programme (3) Air Traffic Management is the salary increments for staff. In this connection, could the Government inform this Council: 

a. of the number and ranks of the staff involved in the salary increments for staff; and the amount involved in 2003-04;

b. whether the department has the capacity to provide services of equal or better quality while absorbing the expenditure increased as a result of the salary increments; and

c. of the substantial saving effected by the pay cut of the civil servants in 2002-03 and whether it has offset part of the expenditure of (a) above?

Asked by : Hon. YIP Kwok-him

Reply :

(a) For the estimates under Programme (2) Airport Standards and Programme (3) Air Traffic Management, the salary increments for staff amount to $ 280,000 and $ 2.4 million respectively and the number and ranks of the staff involved are listed below:

Programme

(b) CAD will seek to provide services of equal or better quality with less resources through better use of existing resources and enhancing efficiency and productivity, e.g. rationalising the maintenance services with a view to cutting the expenditure on maintenance of electrical and mechanical equipment without compromising safety standard.

(c) The savings effected by the pay cut of the civil service in 2002 amount to $13.44 million and have offset the expenditure on (a) above.

Signature:
Name in block letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 20 March 2003

Examination of draft Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04

CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO

INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION

Head : 28 Civil Aviation Department

Subhead (No. & title) : 000 Operational Expenses

Programme :

Controlling Officer : Director-General of Civil Aviation

Bureau Secretary : Secretary for Economic Development and Labour

Question :

Please provide the number of non-civil service contract staff employed and the level of expenditure involved in 2002-03.  Are there any plans to employ more or less non-civil service contract staff in 2003-04? If so, what are the reasons? And what will be the number of staff and the level of expenditure involved?

Asked by : Hon. LEE Cheuk-yan

Reply :

In 2002-03, CAD employed a total of 24 non-civil service contract staff, involving an expenditure of $3.2m. In 2003-04, CAD do not expect to increase or reduce the employment of non-civil service contract staff.

Signature:
Name in block letters: ALBERT K Y LAM
Post Title: Director-General of Civil Aviation
Date: 20 March 2003