Replies to initial written questions raised by Finance Committee Members in examining the Estimates of Expenditure 2012-13 Director of Bureau : Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Session No. 12 File name : cedb(cit)- doc
Download 4.05 Mb.
|
- Navigate this page:
- Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2012-13
Question : (a) The Administration’s estimated provision under this programme for 2012-13 is about $90.6 million, representing an increase of 51.8% over the original estimate for 2011-12. Please advise the Committee of the reasons for the increase. (b) How much of such increase will be used for studies on competition policy and the Competition Bill? Please give details on the expenditure items. Asked by : Hon. IP LAU Suk-yee, Regina Reply : Provision in the original estimate for Programme (4) in 2011-12 was earmarked mainly for the preparatory work relating to the Competition Commission (the Commission), in view of the possibility of enacting the Competition Bill (the Bill) in the later part of 2011-12. For 2012-13, we have earmarked $80.7 million. The increase over the provision in 2011-12 is to cater for the establishment and operation of the Commission in 2012-13 should the Bill be enacted within the same year. It caters for the recruitment and employment of the Commission’s staff, the leasing of the Commission’s office accommodation, and research and promotional work of the Commission. The actual expenditure and work plan will depend on the legislative progress of the Bill.
Question : Regarding the operation of and cooperation between the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the Tourism Commission (TC), will the Administration advise the Committee of the following: (a) What were the expenditures incurred by the TC and the HKTB and the respective manpower involved in 2011-12? Has the Administration ever made an estimation on the receipts from the above-mentioned initiatives? (b) What are the estimated expenditures to be incurred by the TC and the HKTB respectively and their receipts in 2012-13? (c) Does the Administration have in place a detailed plan and guidelines for enhancing the cooperation and development of the TC, the HKTB and the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong? If yes, what are the details and the expenditures and manpower involved? If not, what are the reasons? Asked by : Hon. IP Wai-ming Reply : (a)-(b) The Tourism Commission (TC) was established in 1999 under the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and is tasked with formulating tourism policy, handling and co-ordinating policy matters on tourism with Government departments and other organisations, enhancing Hong Kong’s tourism facilities, and supporting the development of new attractions, etc. The TC is also responsible for monitoring the operations of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC). The revised estimated expenditure of TC in 2011-12 and its estimated expenditure in 2012-13 are $136.3 million and $118.1 million respectively. The staff establishment in both financial years is 65. The HKTB is a statutory body established in 2001 under the Hong Kong Tourism Board Ordinance. Its core function is to promote Hong Kong globally as a leading international city in Asia and a world class tourist destination. In 2011-12, the HKTB’s total marketing and operating expenditure (revised estimate) is $573.3 millionNote, and the total number of established posts in its Head Office and Worldwide Offices is 336. In 2012-13, the total estimated expenditure is $585.8 millionNote, with 338 established posts. The TC maintains close liaison and collaboration with the HKTB as well as related organisations in the tourism sector. The Board of the HKTB comprises members from different industries and sectors, with the Commissioner for Tourism being the Deputy Chairman. The HKTB is required to submit its annual work plan and estimates of income and expenditure to the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development for approval under section 17B of the Hong Kong Tourism Board Ordinance. All of the HKTB’s initiatives, including the launching of promotional campaigns in visitor source markets, staging of mega events and introduction of new travel itineraries, are targeted at consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a premier travel destination and encouraging more visitors to visit and spend in Hong Kong, thereby generating greater benefits for the Hong Kong economy. Each year, the HKTB would project the performance of Hong Kong’s tourism industry, including visitor arrivals and total expenditure associated with inbound tourism (TEAIT), following a systematic and structured forecasting process which not only takes into account various factors of the macro environment, as well as analysis and projections by international organisations, but also makes detailed assessment of the global and regional socio-economic conditions, travel-related policies, tourism trends and patterns of key source markets. For the year 2012, the HKTB projects that visitor arrivals to Hong Kong will increase by 5.5% to 44.23 million, while the TEAIT will increase by 6.4% to $269.13 billion. (c) The TC, HKTB and TIC have been maintaining close liaison and co-operation on tourism development and promotion. To enhance the effectiveness of the promotion work of HKTB and meet the needs of the travel trade, the HKTB will, through the TIC, further strengthen its communication with the trade on its promotion and publicity work, and to enhance the trade’s participation in its promotional activities. The co operation work will be carried out with existing resources. No additional expenses will be incurred.
Download 4.05 Mb. Share with your friends:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||