Borrison/hk-legicost huggingface dataset:
代理主席，我們每次完成選舉後，必定會與鄉議局商討有關的優化工作，而我相信這項工作必定會在今年內展開並進行商討。
Deputy President following each election we will certainly discuss with HYK the possible improvements and I believe the relevant work will surely kick off this year and discussion will be held
我剛才也提過，《範則》的內容從電腦打印出來差不多有23頁，很多事情均已鉅細無遺地羅列，所有事情都需要依據《範則》去做。
As I have mentioned just now the Model Rules include nearly 23 pages of computer printouts . Many details have been clearly set out and compliance with the Model Rules is of paramount importance
代理主席，我們會在今年展開商討。
Deputy President we will kick off the discussion this year
主席，我動議我的議案。
President I move that my motion be passed
主席，今年1月底流感高峰期間，公立醫院病房爆滿，前線醫護人員面對龐大工作壓力，在忍無可忍的情況下向政府吶喊，要求叫停每天150個單程證。
President during the peak season of influenza in January this year wards of public hospitals were all occupied and frontline health care workers were facing immense work pressure . The situation was so intolerable that they started to make a rallying cry to the Government by requesting the Government to halt the daily quota of 150 One - way Permits OWPs
我們必須正視問題根源，而這個問題與香港人口政策息息相關，因為香港新增人口的主要來源之一，就是非本地出生的移民。
We should face the root of the problem squarely . The problem is highly relevant to Hong Kongs population policies . It is because non - local born immigrants are one of the major sources of Hong Kongs population growth
很多香港市民認為香港的承載力已不能繼續承受額外非本地人口，市民要求改革移民及入境制度，令特區政府能重新掌握人口政策的自主權。
Many Hong Kong people consider that Hong Kong has gone beyond its capacity and therefore it cannot accept non - local population anymore . The public demand the SAR Government to reform its immigration policy so that Hong Kong can regain control of its autonomy in deciding its population policies
今天辯論這個題目其實是及時的，我知道不同人士有很強烈的意見，有5位議員提出修正案，所以我呼籲各位同事藉此機會聆聽和回應香港人的訴求。
Todays debate topic is a timely one . I understand that different people have their own strong views as five Members have put forward their amendments . For this reason I urge my colleagues to take this opportunity to listen and respond to the aspirations of Hong Kong people
主席，香港現在就如一艘嚴重超載的船，人太多，船會沉。
President Hong Kong is like a severely overloaded vessel the more people it carries the more likely it will sink
我原議案提出7項建議，可以總括為三大方向："截龍"、審查和打擊造假。
I have made seven proposals in my original motion . They can be summarized in three major directions to stop the queue to take back the vetting and approval power and to combat immigration frauds
這3個方向綜合了其他議員同事、學者、民間團體曾提出的意見，亦參考了立法會資料研究組的報告，務求實事求是地為香港人口規劃尋找出路。
I have summed up views proposed by my colleagues the academia and local groups as well as reports put forward by the Research Office of the Legislative Council Secretariat in these three directions with a view to finding a practical and realistic way out for Hong Kong people in its demographic planning
首先是"截龍"，這是指不能永無止境大量輸入移民，前提是要得到完整審批權。
The first is to stop the queue . It means that we cannot afford to accept interminable influx of immigrants . The full vetting and approval power is a prerequisite
現時單程證制度的問題是整個審批過程由內地各省市公安部門負責，除了需要居留權證明書的申請者外，其他單程證人士是否符合資格，是由內地決定，香港被動接收他們入境。
The problem with the current OWP system is that the entire vetting and approval process is undertaken by public security authorities of various Mainland provinces and municipalities . Except for applicants for the Certificate of Entitlement the eligibility of all other OWP holders is solely determined by Mainland authorities . Hong Kong is in a passive position as far as accepting them as new immigrants is concerned
香港一直沒有清晰的人口政策指標，更別說有完全的執行能力，加上內地計分制度不設品格、醫療及財務條件，所以有嚴重刑事紀錄的人也可以透過單程證制度移居香港。
Hong Kong has all along lacked an unequivocal index for its population policies not to mention the full execution capabilities . In addition Mainland authorities do not require applicants to go through any integrity medical or financial examination under the Mainlands points system . Therefore Mainlanders with severe criminal record may emigrate from the Mainland to Hong Kong under the OWP system
在這一點上，香港特區完全不及內地省市對外來人口戶籍的控制。
In this respect the Hong Kong SAR has lost totally to the Mainland provinces and municipalities which can exercise full control on non - local new arrivals and household registration
2016年河北政法委員張越被揭發每年販賣單程證每張價格高達150萬港元至200萬港元。
In 2016 Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of Hebei Province was found selling OWPs with a price tag of each OWP at HK1.5 million to HK2 million
入境事務處在2018年9月公布打擊跨境假結婚犯罪集團，該集團最少處理了66宗假結婚，向內地人收取7萬港元至10萬港元手續費，涉及的金額大約是570萬元人民幣。
The Immigration Department announced in September 2018 the cracking down of a criminal syndicate engaging in cross - boundary bogus marriages . The syndicate alone had processed at least 66 bogus marriages and collected from each Mainlander a handling charge of HK70,000 to HK100,000 . The total amount involved was around RMB5.7 million
販賣單程證現象反映單程證變質為內地人免經濟審批移民的捷徑，現時制度不考慮申請人經濟背景。
The illicit OWP trade reflects that OWP has become a shortcut for Mainlanders to emigrate to other places without the need of a means test . Besides under the current system the authorities need not examine the financial background of the applicants
在特區政府不行使審批權的情況下，內地犯罪集團和貪官取而代之，經營一盤奇貨可居的生意，結果是有錢就會快有單程證。
Since the SAR Government is not going to exercise the vetting and approval power Mainland criminal syndicates and corrupted officials are taking its place to run this lucrative business . As a result those who are rich enough to pay the price can get their OWPs faster than law - abiding applicants
因此，我原議案首3項建議包括香港要行使完整審批權，加入與受養人制度看齊的品格及財務審批條款，以期阻止非法中介謀利，這可令內地對單程證的需求減少，繼而有空間把配額由每天150個減至75個，做到"截龍"的效果。
For that reason the first three proposals in my original motion including Hong Kong should exercise the full vetting and approval power . Hong Kong should make it on a par with the dependents system by incorporating the approval conditions on integrity and financial means so as to prevent illegal intermediaries to gain profits . This will reduce Mainlands demand for OWPs and gradually reduce the OWP quota from 150 per day by half to 75 and achieve the stop the queue effect
行使審批權和打擊造假，可令政府主動調節，與香港本土承載力互相適應，令香港的公共資源分配可以按港人優先原則，回應香港市民的需要。
The vetting and approval power and the combat on immigration frauds will enable the Government to make adjustment autonomously so that the local capacity can be adjusted to cope with the new arrivals and then public resources can be distributed according to the principle of putting Hong Kong people first with a view to addressing Hong Kong peoples needs . President in fact 20 years ago ie
主席，事實上在20年前，即1999年，已有22名港區人大代表聯署要求內地容許香港參與單程證審批權；2002年首任特首董建華亦向中央提出減少單程證配額的要求，因此取回完整審批權的訴求絕非新鮮事物，早有先例。
1999 joint signatures of 22 Hong Kong Deputies to the National Peoples Congress and delegates to the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference were presented with a view to requesting the Mainland to allow Hong Kong to take part in the vetting and approval of OWPs . In 2002 the former Chief Executive TUNG Chee - hwa also submitted the request to the Central Government to reduce the OWP quota . For that reason the aspiration to take back the full vetting and approval power is nothing new at all as there have been precedents already
在現時的單程證制度下，內地居民移居香港後會被取消中國戶籍。
Under the current OWP system the Mainland household registrations of Mainland residents will be nullified after they have settled down in Hong Kong
我在原議案的第四點提出研究"返回機制"，因為現時的情況是合法的中港跨境婚姻，雙方居港一段時間後，如果發現生活不符原先期望，甚至出現與經濟狀況、年齡差距、居住環境和文化差異相關的矛盾，在沒有"返回機制"的情況下，他們便有機會長期陷入困境，更差的是會發生家庭悲劇。
I propose in paragraph 4 of my original motion that a study on the introduction of a return mechanism should be conducted . At present when legally married couples of cross - boundary marriages find that the life in Hong Kong is not what they have expected after settling down in Hong Kong for some time or when they have run into troubles such as financial troubles disparity in age living conditions or cultural differences it is most likely that they will be caught in an eternal predicament if a return mechanism is not available and the worse scenario is a domestic tragedy
即使最終和平離婚收場，雙方自身和需要照 顧的親屬也會面臨巨大的經濟壓力，特別是離婚後失去公共租住房屋的香港永久居民，生活水平會下滑，甚至長期貧窮。
Even if the couples are divorced the need to take care of themselves as well as their dependents will impose great financial pressure on them . In particular the standard of living of those Hong Kong residents who lost their public rental housing PRH units will fall drastically and they will end up in long - term poverty
家庭離散後，他們的基本生活權利依然得不到保障。
Their basic rights in life are not protected after their families have broken up
"返回機制"便可以讓中港跨境婚姻家庭有足夠時間，考慮香港是否他們團聚和定居的終點，"返回機制"可以讓他們有多一個選擇。
A return mechanism may provide families of cross - boundary marriages with adequate time to consider if Hong Kong is the final destination for their reunion and settling down . A return mechanism can allow them to have another option
如果有頗大比例的家庭選擇在中國大陸落戶，這樣也可以疏導香港的人口，所以"返回機制"與"截龍"的做法相輔相成。
If a larger portion of families opt to settle down in the Mainland they will help divert Hong Kongs population . Therefore a return mechanism and the stop the queue approach are complementary to each other
主席，至於審查和打擊造假，我們要為香港的公共資源把關。
President as to the vetting and approval power and the combat of immigration frauds we should play the role as the gatekeeper for Hong Kongs public resources
以資助房屋為例，香港市民質疑部分的新來港人士，在香港境外持有物業資產，卻又獲分配公屋。
Let us take subsidized housing as an example . Hong Kong residents doubt that some new arrivals are holding property assets outside Hong Kong but they are also given a PRH flat
近日有傳媒報道，指過去3年，房屋署接獲50宗個案，涉及隱瞞擁有境外物業，但只有4宗能夠成功檢控並定罪，定罪的比例極低。
Recently there are media reports that over the past three years the Housing Department HD has received 50 cases involving PRH residents concealing their ownership of properties outside Hong Kong . Only four cases are successful in prosecution and conviction . The conviction rate is really very low
香港房屋委員會轄下的資助房屋小組委員會主席黃遠輝亦指出，房署曾研究審查申請人的境外資產，但一直也沒有辦法執行，他認為大陸及海外機構未必配合調查，黃遠輝亦認為，如新來港人士蓄意隱瞞境外資產，房署或許沒有辦法查出，形成審查的漏洞。
Mr Stanley WONG Chairman of the Subsidised Housing Committee of the Hong Kong Housing Authority has also said that HD had studied the feasibility of vetting the assets of applicants outside Hong Kong but that had not been put in to practice . He thinks that Mainland and overseas institutions may not be willing to cooperate with the scrutiny . Mr Stanley WONG also thinks that if new arrivals conceal their assets outside Hong Kong deliberately HD may not be able to find them out and that would become a loophole in the vetting and approval process
主席，除了隱瞞和提供假資料，非本地人士還透過假結婚及偽造文書等欺詐方式，從而獲得香港居留權和社會福利。
President in addition to concealment of assets and provision of false information non - local people have committed immigration frauds through bogus marriages and falsification of documentation in order to obtain the right of abode in Hong Kong and social welfare benefits
於2013年至2017年間，入境處共就2,744宗懷疑假結婚個案展開調查，共有5,208人被捕，而當中606人被成功檢控和定罪。
From 2013 to 2017 the Immigration Department investigated a total of 2 744 cases of suspected bogus marriages and a total of 5 208 people were arrested in which 606 were successfully prosecuted and convicted
入境處曾答覆立法會，有關涉及假結婚的非本地居民，多為大陸居民。
The Immigration Department has replied to the Legislative Council that most of the non - local people involved in bogus marriages were Mainland residents
主席，我的議案亦要求加強各類輸入人才計劃的審查，並檢討配額。
President I also propose in my motion that the vetting and approval of various talent admission schemes should be enhanced and the corresponding quota should be reviewed
近年平均超過5萬人透過3個主要人才入境計劃，獲准在香港工作和定居，每年更有3,000人至4,000人取得居留權。
In recent years an average of about 50 000 people per year are permitted to work and settle down in Hong Kong under various talent admission schemes . Each year about 3 000 to 4 000 people are granted the right of abode in Hong Kong . A rising trend can be observed from the relevant figures
有關數字有加快上升的趨勢，而輸入人才計劃的漏洞，便是有人利用虛假學歷和專業資格作申請。
Besides as far as the loophole of various talent admission schemes is concerned some people may use falsified academic and professional qualifications in their job applications
前年，即2017年，有傳媒揭發大陸移民公司協助"假專才"來港，保安局於去年10月答覆立法會議員質詢時，指出2014年至2018年9月，入境處就優秀人才入境計劃曾調查12宗懷疑提交失實資料，或作虛假陳述的申請個案，全部申請最終遭到終止，入境處亦對當中9宗個案進行刑事調查。
In 2017 the year before the last the media revealed that a Mainland immigration consultancy assisted bogus talents to come to Hong Kong . In October last year the Security Bureau replied to a question raised by a Legislative Council Member that from 2014 to September 2018 the Immigration Department investigated 12 applications under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme . The applicants were suspected to have furnished false information or made false representation
故此，我在議案中的第五點至第七點指出，要進一步堵塞漏洞。
Those applications were all terminated and nine cases were under criminal investigation . For this reason I point out from paragraphs 5 to 7 in my motion that the loopholes should be further plugged
對於假結婚，政府可以參考英國的做法，如果懷疑非本地人士假結婚，可延期簽發"婚姻登記官證明書"，讓政府部門有更多時間進行調查、執法、拒絕結婚申請。
As to combating bogus marriages the Government may step up efforts and draw reference from the practice of the United Kingdom by extending the period for the issue of a Certificate of Registrar of Marriages if the authorities suspect that non - local people are engaging in bogus marriages . This will give government departments more time to conduct investigations to take enforcement actions and to refuse the marriage applications
至於"假專才"、假資歷及隱瞞境外資產，香港特區政府更應成立跨部門的調查小組，在全球層面參與反欺詐活動，加強資訊互通和配合調查，並要加緊核實證明文件是否真確，以及獲得境外資產的資料。
As to combating bogus talents false academic and concealment of the ownership of assets outside Hong Kong the Hong Kong Government should establish an inter - departmental task force dedicated to investigation . It aims to participate in the global cooperation on immigration fraud prevention to step up the efforts in the communication of information and investigation cooperation by conducting strict verification of supporting documents and collecting information of the assets owned by new arrivals outside Hong Kong
主席，香港現時就如一艘嚴重超載的船，人太多、船會沉。
President at present Hong Kong is just like a severely overloaded vessel the more people it carries the more likely it will sink
面對人口增長令我們公共服務的承載力達至上限時，"截龍"、審查和打擊造假，三者缺一不可。
As the local capacity of our public services has reached its upper limit due to the population growth the efforts on stopping the queue vetting and combating immigration frauds are indispensable
既要行使審批權、檢討配額、防止不法分子濫用制度的漏洞，亦要把不同國籍申請人的審批條件看齊，這才是真正公平對待來自不同原居地的移民申請人。
We need to get hold of the vetting and approval power to review the quota to prevent the abuse of the loopholes by illegal elements and to make their approval conditions on a par with applicants of different nationalities . Only by doing so can we give genuinely equitable treatment to all immigration applicants from different places of origin
主席，大家是否知道今天剛巧是"國際消除種族歧視日"，我很清楚知道討論移民政策容易引起爭議，社會輿論亦容易將對政策的不滿和對人的不滿混淆。
President I am not sure if Members know that it just so happens that today is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination . I understand very well that the discussion on immigration policies will cause controversy and it is very easy for the public to mix up their discontentment against a policy with that against an official
雖然現實世界中，我們很難完完全全分清楚政策和人，但不論政府、特首、議員，或民間團體，也應盡量把討論集中在政策層面而非人。
In the real world we can hardly draw a line between the policy and the person . But instead of focusing on the person be it the Government the Chief Executive Members or local groups we should focus our discussions on the policy level
主席，一個地方不論有多開放，也不可能接收來自全國、全球的新移民。
President regardless of the extent of openness of a place it is impossible for a place to accept immigrants from a whole country and the whole world
即使講求人權的國家，例如歐洲聯盟，對家庭移民的申請，也有住所、醫療保險及經濟能力的要求。
Even countries emphasizing human rights such as the European Union will impose domicile medical insurance and financial means requirements for family immigrants
所以，制訂移民政策本身並不會構成歧視，相反，制訂合理、符合香港本土期望和發展需要的人口政策，這才能避免出現不必要的社會矛盾和仇恨。
For that reason the formulation of immigration policies will not constitute discrimination . Quite the contrary the formulation of a population policy which is reasonable and which can meet the local expectation as well as the development needs will avoid unnecessary social conflicts and hatreds
改革移民和入境政策就是為人口政策把關，減慢人口增長速度，香港才可以有空間做好民生長遠規劃，畢竟人太多、船會沉。
The objective of reforming the immigration policies is to put a check on the population policy and slow down the rate of population growth so that Hong Kong can have the room to draw up proper long - term planning for the peoples livelihood . After all Hong Kong is like a severely overloaded vessel the more people it carries the more likely it will sink
主席，我們今天討論的是單程證人口的控制。
President the subject under discussion today is how to control the number of One - way Permit OWP entrants
很簡單，現時超過一半的醫院床位是長者使用。
At present over half of the hospital beds are occupied by elderly people
來港的新移民中，長者的比例根本非常低，他們絕大部分是婦孺，又如何導致醫療服務"爆煲"呢？
But elderly people only account for a tiny fraction of the new immigrants . Most of them are women and children . How can they overload our health care system?
我曾擔任很多協助移民的工作，因為我成年後到美國升學，在那邊工作，亦成為美國的移民。
I took up many jobs in helping immigrants because I went on to study and work in the United States when I grew up
我的工作本身是幫助新移民。
I became their immigrant and my work was to help new immigrants
我看到很多從內地、香港、台灣、越南或其他地方前往美國的華裔朋友，到美國後亦備受當地人歧視，或在文化共融方面出現很多問 題。
Many Chinese who emigrated to the United States from the Mainland Hong Kong Taiwan Vietnam and other places are discriminated by the locals . They have difficulties in integrating into the local cultures
回到香港後，我看到新移民被歧視的情況十分嚴重。
Upon returning to Hong Kong I find discrimination against new immigrants is serious
大家同是香港人，但從內地來港的人總被視為低人一等，他們到了美國，也很可能會被視為低人一等，所以整件事也頗荒謬。
They are all Hong Kong people but those who came from the Mainland are always treated as an inferior . If they go to the United States they may also be treated as an inferior . The whole thing is absurd
我們究竟如何與新移民相處？
How should we get along with the new immigrants?
香港的情況比較複雜，我們面對的不單是經單程證來港的新移民，而是整個中國內地的力量及威權。
The situation in Hong Kong is rather complicated . We not only have to deal with the OWP entrants but also the power and autocracy coming from the Mainland
在這樣的威權籠罩之下，香港人我自以為是香港人感到備受壓迫及威脅；本港的文化備受衝擊，因為我們面對的不是簡單的弱勢新移民，而是整個政權、整個國家的力量。
Under this autocracy Hong Kong people I regard myself as a Hongkonger feel oppressed and threatened and the cultures in Hong Kong are under threat . It is because we are not only facing the vulnerable immigrants from the Mainland but also the power of the regime or the whole country . Our Cantonese language may be forced to disappear; and no effort is made to control the 70 - odd million tourists who have completely messed up our community life
我居住的地方在香港南區，我們的商場也可能逐漸變成特賣場，我們的住宅區可能會興建酒店，而接着的新發展很多也是為大陸遊客而設；我們的鄰居，也越來越多人說普通話，這些每每形成我們對新移民的反感。
The shopping malls in our district are gradually turning into places for promotional sales events . There may even be a new hotel in the district . Many new developments are tailored for Mainland tourists
不過，我們混淆了，因為我們面對的問題，並不是持單程證來港的人造成的，大家真的要看清楚，這些應該是香港人的家人。
The problems in front of us are not created by OWP entrants . We have to be clear about one thing . These people should be family members of Hongkongers
老實說，跨境婚姻發生在哪個階層呢？
Which walk of life do cross - boundary marriages take place?
應該是以基層為主，而控制、威脅我們的政治、法制和文化的，並不是這些人，這些人其實都是弱勢人士。
These marriages mainly take place among the grass roots . They do not threaten our politics legal system and culture . They are actually vulnerable people
所以，她們面對的困難非常大。
So they are in a difficult situation
但是，另一方面，為何我們會面對這麼多民生上的缺失呢？
But then why do we have so many livelihood inadequacies?
何俊賢議員說，這是由反對派造成，這簡直是荒天下之大謬。
According to Mr Steven HO this is caused by the opposition camp . This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard
人口急速老化造成醫療"爆煲"，人口急速老化，究竟是否不可遇見、突然發生呢？
Is the rapidly ageing population which has led to an overloaded health care system something unpredictable or something that happens all of a sudden?
政府在2002年大幅削減醫療開支，減少800多名護士、百多名衞生職系人員、98名醫生；減少培訓；在2003年至2010年間，由29,539張病床減少至2009年的26,872張病床，直至現在，我們仍然未能恢復當年的醫院床位數目；在2000年至2012年，完全沒有新醫院落成。
Between 2003 and 2010 hospital beds were reduced from 29 539 beds to 26 872 beds in 2009 . To date the hospitals are still unable to increase their beds back to their past level . No hospital was built from 2000 to 2012
在2003年之後，政府大幅削減學額，我在香港理工大學任教，所以知道，政府完全規劃失誤......
The Government slashed school places in the years after 2003 . I taught at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University . That is why I know
主席，我發言反對原議案。
President I speak in opposition to the original motion
我想大家首先要釐清一個概念，單程證制度的政策目的，是為了家庭團聚，這是基本的人權。
We should clarify a notion first . The policy objective of OWP is for family reunion which is a basic human right
我們更不應該因為內地新移民使用香港公共服務及設施，就以負面角度評價他們，忽略他們對社會的貢獻。
More importantly we should not see these people negatively and overlook their contributions to society by saying that new Mainland arrivals are using public services and facilities in Hong Kong
香港本來就是一個移民社會，早在20世紀初，香港六成人口從內地，特別是廣東省，移民而來，為數相當多。
Hong Kong has been a migrant society since day one . At the beginning of the 20 century about 60 % of Hong Kongs population had come from Mainland China particularly Guangdong and the number was significant
經過戰後、建國初期及文革等多次移民潮，自1961年至2016年的50年間，共有超過200萬名內地人移居香港。
After several massive migrations which took place during the post - war period the founding years of the Country and the Cultural Revolution more than 2 million Mainlanders came to live in Hong Kong in the 50 years from 1961 to 2016
按照推算，現時香港有接近八成半人口為內地移民或內地移民的後裔。
By inference about 85 % of the existing population in Hong Kong consists of either Mainland arrivals themselves or descendant of Mainland arrivals
香港的經濟起飛，有賴這些來自內地、以香港為家的移民，他們提供了大量勞動力、資金及技術，在不同的時期在不同的行業發揮不同的作用，為香港的經濟作出貢獻。
The economic take - off of Hong Kong owes to these Mainland arrivals who see Hong Kong as their home . They have provided enormous labour capital and skills and have performed various functions in various trades at various times making great contributions to Hong Kongs economy
至於房屋、教育、醫療這些公共服務需求，是城市發展和人口增加必然面對的問題。
Urbanization and population growth will necessarily lead to demands for public services such as housing education and health care
如果將這些社會問題完全歸咎於持單程證或其他新來港人士，實在不公道。
It is definitely unfair for us to put all the blame on OWP holders or other new arrivals for these social problems
主席，香港與內地關係密切，所以目前審批單程證程序較審批其他國家或地區來港的申請嚴謹。
President given the close relationship between Hong Kong and Mainland China the vetting and approval of OWP application are more stringent than those from other countries and areas
回歸後，內地公安部開始實行每天批出150個配額及"打分制"，有效控制單程證來港人數。
After the reunification the Mainlands Ministry of Public Security began to grant the 150 daily quota and implemented a point - based system which has effectively kept the number of OWP holders arriving Hong Kong under control
隨着內地經濟發展，夫妻團聚類別的申請人，等候年期已由15年逐步降低至現時的4年。
As the economy of the Mainland develops the waiting period for applications under the spousal reunion category has gradually shortened from 15 years to 4 years now
其實，如果每天150個配額已不能用完，當局 應考慮與內地公安部研究進一步放寬的可能，以解除家人長時間分開生活之苦。
As the 150 daily quota is not fully utilized the authorities should discuss with Mainlands Ministry of Public Security and consider further relaxation to relieve the plight of prolonged separation suffered by these families
主席，現時香港面臨的挑戰不是人口過多，反而是出生率低、人口老化和勞動力不足。
President overpopulation is not a challenge facing Hong Kong now . Instead the challenges are low birth rate the ageing population and insufficient labour supply
根據美國中央情報局發布的世界生育率排名，香港居於倒數第四位，僅高於新加坡、澳門及台灣。
According to the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States Hong Kong sits at the bottom fourth place in the global birth rate rankings outperforming only Singapore Macao and Taiwan
如果只靠人口的自然增長，香港人口老化的比例肯定較現在大得多。
If we rely on natural growth alone population ageing in Hong Kong would have been more serious for sure
香港目前能保持一定數量的年輕勞動人口投入生產，特別是從事基層職位，很大程度上是靠持單程證來港人士的補充。
It is largely due to the replenishment from OWP holding new arrivals that Hong Kong can now maintain the productive young labour force at a reasonable size especially at the grass - roots level