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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (June 21) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on polarisation in the job market.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Li Fung-ying, says: ¡°That, as structural unemployment is serious in our job market and employment polarisation has occurred, this Council urges the Government to improve the employment environment for low-skilled employees, create job opportunities and strengthen the training for them, so as to enhance their competitiveness.¡±
Hon Leung Yiu-chung and Hon Andrew Cheng, will move separate amendments to Hon Li Fung-ying¡¯s motion.
Members will also debate a motion on developing Hong Kong into a regional education hub. The motion, to be proposed by Hon Tsang Yok-sing, states: ¡°That, as Hong Kong's education services are diversified, its education programmes and academic qualifications are internationally recognized, and as it has established close ties with the Mainland, coupled with its background as a meeting point of Eastern and Western cultures, there are favourable conditions for Hong Kong to develop into a regional education hub; in addition, since promoting Hong Kong as a regional education hub will attract talents, enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness and help broaden the horizons of local students, this Council urges the Government to review the relevant policies and formulate measures to facilitate and attract more non-local students to study in Hong Kong, and encourage local education institutions to provide education services outside Hong Kong; the specific measures include:
(a) relaxing immigration control to reduce barriers for non-local students aspiring to receive education at various levels in Hong Kong;
(b) on condition that local students' opportunities to pursue further studies in Hong Kong will not be reduced, allowing tertiary institutions to increase the ratio of the admission quotas for non-local students;
(c) on condition that the employment of local people will not be affected, allowing non-local students to take up part-time jobs while attending full-time programmes so that they can obtain relevant working experience and their financial burden can be alleviated;
(d) providing affordable boarding facilities to non-local students by such means as granting land to schools and institutions at nominal premium for the construction of hostels or allowing the conversion of vacant school premises into hostels;
(e) providing more scholarships for non-local students with outstanding academic achievements in specific subjects;
(f) assisting local institutions to run schools in the Mainland, especially in the Pearl River Delta region, to promote co-operation between the two places; and
(g) establishing a dedicated department to promote Hong Kong's education services to the Mainland and overseas.¡±
In addition, Hon Kwong Chi-kin and Hon Li Fung-ying will move separate resolutions under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Security and Guarding Services (Fees) (Amendment) Regulation 2006 and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Loadshifting Machinery) Regulation (Commencement) Notice 2006 to the meeting of July 12, 2006.
Meanwhile, Hon Chan Kam-lam will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Deposit Protection Scheme Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules 1 and 4) Notice 2006, the Deposit Protection Scheme (Representation on Scheme Membership and Protection of Financial Products under Scheme) Rules, the Deposit Protection Scheme (Payment of Contributions, Late Payment Fees and Rebates) Rules and the Deposit Protection Scheme Ordinance (Commencement) Notice 2006 to the meeting of July 12, 2006.
Hon Howard Young will also move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Electoral Affairs Commission (Registration) (Electors for Legislative Council Functional Constituencies) (Voters for Election Committee Subsectors) (Members of Election Committee) (Amendment) Regulation 2006, the Electoral Affairs Commission (Nominations Advisory Committees (Election Committee)) (Amendment) Regulation 2006 and the Electoral Affairs Commission (Electoral Procedure) (Election Committee) (Amendment) Regulation 2006 to the meeting of July 12, 2006.
On Government motions, the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology will move a resolution under the Copyright (Suspension of Amendments) Ordinance 2001 to seek the Council¡¯s approval to the Copyright (Suspension of Amendments) Ordinance 2001 (Amendment) Notice 2006, made by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology on May 30, 2006.
The Secretary for Home Affairs will also propose a resolution under the District Councils Ordinance to seek the Council¡¯s approval to the District Councils Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order 2006, made by the Chief Executive in Council on May 9, 2006.
On bills, the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children Incorporation (Amendment) Bill 2006 will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
During the meeting, Members will ask the Government 20 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the Legislative Council InfoFax Service (Tel: 2869 9568) or the Legislative Council web site (http://www.legco.gov.hk).
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.
Ends/Monday, June 19, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:35
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