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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (February 7) at 11 am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on urging the Housing Authority to grant rent remission to public rental housing tenants and expeditiously reduce the rent.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Frederick Fung, states: "That, as the income of public rental housing ("PRH") tenants has dropped as a result of the economic downturn in earlier years, but the Housing Authority ("HA") has not reduced the rent of PRH, and during the period from 1998, when rent increases began to be suspended, to 2005, the income index of PRH households has dropped by about 15% while their median household monthly income has fallen by more than 20%, this Council urges the HA to expeditiously reduce the rent by 15% to 20% in accordance with the level of reduction in the income of PRH tenants, and grant a two-month rent remission to compensate for the extra amount of rent that PRH tenants have paid over the years."
Hon Cham Yuen-han will move an amendment to Hon Frederick Fung's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on expeditiously implementing the construction of cross-boundary transport infrastructures between Hong Kong and the Mainland. The motion, to be proposed by Hon Cheung Hok-ming, says: "That, as the Government has announced its Action Agenda to tie in with the National Eleventh Five-Year Plan and fully affirmed the importance of cross-boundary cooperation between Hong Kong and the Mainland, this Council urges the Government to expedite the construction of various cross-boundary transport infrastructures between Hong Kong and the Mainland, such as the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, Liantang Eastern Corridor and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and to resume the ferry services between Shatin and Eastern Guangdong, etc; at the same time, the Government should expeditiously review and expedite the construction of ancillary facilities for cross-boundary transport infrastructures within Hong Kong's territory, such as the Tuen Mun Western Bypass, Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link, Tuen Mun Eastern Bypass and the easterly link road connecting Deep Bay Link with Route 3, and take proactive measures to optimize the use of Route 3, etc to comprehensively enhance the integration with the Mainland's transport infrastructures, so as to promote sustainable and steady development of Hong Kong's economy."
Hon Albert Ho, Hon Andrew Cheung and Hon Wong Kwok-hing will move separate amendments to Hon Cheung Hok-mings motion.
Meanwhile, the Secretary for the Commerce, Industry and Technology will move a resolution under the Import and Export Ordinance to seek the Council's approval to the Import and Export (Registration)(Amendment) Regulation 2007, made by the Chief Executive in Council on January 16, 2007. The Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works will also move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to amend the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 1) Notice 2007, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on January 10, 2007.
On bill, the Domicile Bill will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
During the meeting, Members will also 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 website (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. Members of the public can also listen to the meeting via the audio webcast system on the Legislative Council homepage.
Ends/Monday, February 5, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:00
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