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The following is issued on behalf of Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting this Wednesday (March 30) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on concern about the impact of the earthquake in Japan on Hong Kong.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Wong Ting-kwong, states: "That, since an earthquake of magnitude 9.0 on the Richter Scale that occurred in Japan on March 11 has, apart from causing enormous casualties, also affected the global economy, this Council urges the SAR Government to, having regard to the latest development of the incident, strengthen the monitoring of the impact of the earthquake in Japan on Hong Kong's financial market, import and export trade, consumer market of Japanese products and tourism industry, and provide timely information and adopt effective measures, so as to lessen the impact of the earthquake in Japan on the Hong Kong economy and stabilise people's confidence; at the same time, given that the problem of nuclear power safety triggered by the earthquake in Japan has aroused Hong Kong people's concern about their health, this Council urges the SAR Government to step up surveillance of the radiation levels in Hong Kong and the safety tests on food products imported from Japan, and announce the relevant surveillance information as soon as possible; moreover, the SAR Government should strengthen the publicity of the contingency plan for nuclear power incidents to the public, and recommend the Guangdong provincial authorities to increase the number of non-routine inspections and perfect the existing notification mechanism for nuclear power incidents."
Hon Frederick Fung, Hon Albert Chan, Hon Audrey Eu, Hon Tommy Cheung, Hon Wong Kwok-hing, Hon Kam Nai-wai and Hon James To will move separate amendments to Hon Wong Ting-kwong's motion. Meanwhile, Hon Jeffrey Lam will move an amendment to Hon Frederick Fung's amendment; Prof Hon Patrick Lau will move an amendment to Hon Albert Chan's amendment; Hon Abraham Shek will move an amendment to Hon Kam Nai-wai's amendment; and Hon Lau Kong-wah will move an amendment to Hon James To's amendment.
Hon Ip Kwok-him will move a motion on implementing the 12th Five-Year Plan. The motion, states: "That the 12th Five-Year Plan endorsed by the National People's Congress at its meeting devotes, for the first time, a separate chapter to Hong Kong in that it proposes to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's status as an international financial, trade and shipping centre, increase its global influence as a financial centre; support Hong Kong in nurturing emerging industries and new growth areas for its economy; and further intensify the co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong; in this connection, this Council urges the SAR Government to give active response, seize the golden opportunity presented by the 12th Five-Year Plan and intensify the co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland, so as to promote Hong Kong's economic development and improve people's livelihood; the relevant measures should include:
(a) to expeditiously formulate long-term development planning for Hong Kong, so as to dovetail with the implementation of the National 12th Five-Year Plan;
(b) to optimise the use of abundant financial revenue and huge foreign exchange reserve to further enhance the building of the social security system and take good care of the underprivileged, with a view to improving people's livelihood;
(c) to develop the financial industries, promote Renminbi business, enhance market stability, and turn Hong Kong into an offshore Renminbi clearing centre and an international asset management centre, so as to enhance the global influence of Hong Kong's financial industries;
(d) to expeditiously study and implement the construction of a third runway to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's status as an aviation centre;
(e) to establish a 'brand development council' and specialised funds to open up the Mainland market, and develop a 'bridgehead economy' around the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, so as to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's status as a trade centre;
(f) to establish a standard patent examination system in Hong Kong to encourage innovation and enhance the sustainability of economic development;
(g) to establish industrial investment funds for investment immigrants, strengthen training of talents, and amend the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme to attract talents, with a view to promoting and enhancing the development of emerging industries, including environmental industries, medical services, education services, testing and certification services, innovation and technology as well as cultural and creative industries, etc., fostering diversified economic development, supporting small and medium enterprises and promoting employment; and
(h) to further intensify the co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland, implement the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation, and foster the co-operation between Hong Kong and the Economic Zone on the West Coast of the Taiwan Strait, with a view to promoting joint development."
Hon Lee Wing-tat, Hon Wong Sing-chi, Hon Alan Leong and Hon Miriam Lau will move separate amendments to Hon Ip Kwok-him's motion. Meanwhile, Hon Mrs Sophie Leung will move an amendment to Hon Lee Wing-tat's amendment and Hon Cheung Hok-ming will move an amendment to Hon Wong Sing-chi's amendment.
Hon Tam Yiu-chung will move a proposed resolution under Article 75 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China to amend Rule 58 (Procedure in Committee of the Whole Council on a Bill) of the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Meanwhile, the Secretary for Home Affairs will move a proposed resolution under the Legal Aid Ordinance to amend the Legal Aid Ordinance Section 5 (Persons eligible for legal aid) and Section 5A (Supplementary legal aid).
The Secretary for Home Affairs will move a proposed resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to amend the Legal Aid (Assessment of Resources and Contributions) (Amendment) Regulation 2011, which laid on the table of the Legislative Council on March 2, 2011.
The Secretary for the Environment will move a proposed resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to amend the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules 1 and 3) Order 2011, which laid on the table of the Legislative Council on March 2, 2011.
The Secretary for Transport and Housing will move a proposed resolution under the Road Traffic Ordinance to further extend the period for which there remains in force the limit on the number of vehicles which may be registered as public light buses specified in the Public Light Buses (Limitation on Number) Notice from June 20, 2011 to June 20, 2016.
On Bills, Members will resume Second Reading debate on the Food Safety Bill. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will then go through the Committee Stage and be read the Third time.
Members will also ask the Administration 20 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo InfoFax Service (Tel: 2869 9568) or the LegCo website (www.legco.gov.hk). Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found in the LegCo website.
Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Legislative Council Chamber. They may reserve seats by calling 2869 9399 during office hours. Seats will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Members of the public can also listen to the meeting via the web broadcast system on the Legislative Council homepage.
Ends/Monday, March 28, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:36
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