HIGH TIDE (MARCH 26TH 2015) – DAILY POLITICAL ROUND-UP

CY Leung urges HongKongers to “punish” Pan-dems in upcoming LegCo elections.
– CY Leung gave a speech at the Annual Asian Investment Conference, in which he claimed that “throughout the Occupy movement…The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army was never called out from their barracks. It was a reassuring sign on the part of the Central Government of the faith and confidence in the Hong Kong Government and its Police Force”
– The CE also said that “there were serious prospects of the democrats who were behind or supporting the Occupy movement being punished at the elections later this year and next year”
– Leung reinstated the call at the Q&A session, urging constituents to “vote them out” of the LegCo in next year’s election
– Leung will visit Hainan on Friday to attend the Boao Forum; he will discuss the role of Hong Kong in “One Belt, One Road” projects

Pan-dems blast Leung’s remarks.
– Democratic Party’s Emily Lau slammed Leung for being “unbecoming of a CE”
– Both Lau and Civic Party’s Alan Leong said (in Chinese) Leung, who was being elected with 689 votes, was not in a position to make such calls
– Albert Chan of People Power said Leung lacks proper understanding and recognition toward a democratic legislative body
– FTU’s Wong Kwok-kin and DAB’s Ann Chiang said it is “normal” to ask electorate to vote out competitors in times of political oppositions

Two Pan-dem lawmakers face investigation over Jimmy Lai donation.
– Chairman of the Committee on Members’ Interest Ip Kwok-him said the Committee has agreed to launch an investigation into Larbour Party’s Lee Cheuk-yan and LSD’s Leung Kwok-hung over alleged acceptance of HKD500,000 donations from former Next Media chairman Jimmy Lai without declaring it
– The Committee has also decided not to turn the case against Democratic Party’s James To
– Both Lee and Leung said that they are not overly concerned with the investigation

Secretary for the Environment responds to questions on vehicle emissions and municipal solid waste.
– Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing told lawmakers that about 23,600 pre-Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles (DCVs) were retired under the Ex-gratia Payment Scheme launched in March 2014 – with some 60,000 DCVs to go
– Wong also said that the increased daily per capita MSW disposal rate from 1.3kg in 2012 to 1.33kg in 2013 was a result of active economic activities in retail, food and beverage, and service industries
– Wong will visit Macau later today to attend the 2015 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition

Appointments to Steering Committee of Pilot Green Transport Fund.
– The Government has announced appointments to the Steering Committee of Pilot Green Transport Fund for a new two-year term starting from April 1
– Professor Timothy Tong has been re-appointed as the Chairman of the steering committee
– New members include Dr Lawrence Chan Wan-ching, Mr Benny Chu Kwok-ki, Mr Lai Ming-hung, Mr Leung Kun-kuen and Professor Dennis Leung Yiu-cheong

LegCo approves District Cooling Services Bill.
– LegCo approves in third reading the installation of an environmental friendly District Cooling System at the Kai Tak Development
– The System is expected to cover 35% of the total air-conditioned floor area of the KTD
– The Government will impose charges for the services