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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (April 9) at 11 am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on elderly housing policy.
The motion, to be moved by Prof Hon Patrick Lau Sau-shing, states: "That, given that the Chief Executive's Policy Address emphasises 'quality city and quality life', in facing the two challenges of the appalling living conditions of many elderly persons and the known problem of the ageing population, allocating additional resources to promote comfortable living for all the elderly will be an important strategy to achieve quality life for the whole community, this Council urges the Government to make reference to local and overseas experience to expeditiously formulate, through comprehensive planning, a clear policy on elderly housing, including:
(a) immediately examining the different housing needs of various categories of elderly persons in various districts in the territory, and formulating guidelines for constructing elderly housing;
(b) formulating land policies that complement elderly housing, including giving consideration to land supply, land grant and land premium, etc, and setting out explicitly in the Outline Zoning Plan the types of land to be used for building elderly housing;
(c) providing land at a low price or for free to non-profit-making bodies or organisations that have the interest, ability and experience to build elderly housing, and considering converting vacant schools and old industrial buildings into elderly housing;
(d) comprehensively reviewing the legislation on lands, planning and buildings, so as to integrate elderly housing into various communities, and providing in the vicinity of elderly housing sufficient community and passive recreational facilities which are needed by the elderly; and
(e) improving the regulation of care and attention homes and serviced housing for the elderly, so as to provide diversified choices for elderly persons with different means,
thereby truly creating a quality living environment for the people in the territory, including the elderly who will account for over a quarter of the population, and developing a harmonious and integrated quality city for the future of Hong Kong."
Hon Frederick Fung, Hon James To, Hon Mrs Selina Chow, Hon Chan Yuen-han, Hon Albert Ho, Hon Chan Kam-lam and Hon Lee Wing-tat will move separate amendments to Prof Hon Patrick Lau Sau-shing's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on raising the limit of university places for publicly-funded degree programmes. The motion, to be proposed by Hon Fred Li, says: "That, as the percentage of the people in Hong Kong who attend universities at the appropriate age has all along been lower than those of the neighbouring regions, and there is presently a keen demand for degree holders in the market, this Council urges the Government to gradually raise the annual limit of 14,500 places for publicly-funded first-year first-degree programmes, increase the proportion of local people of the appropriate age group holding first degree or higher academic qualifications, and provide more opportunities for sub-degree holders with outstanding academic results to pursue higher studies, so as to match the development of a knowledge-based economy in Hong Kong."
Hon Miriam Lau, Hon Cheung Man-kwong, Hon Tsang Yok-sing and Dr Hon Joseph Lee Kok-long will move separate amendments to Hon Fred Li's motion.
Meanwhile, Hon Miriam Lau will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 6) Order 2008, which was laid on the table of the Legislative Council on March 12, 2008, to the meeting of April 30, 2008. The order seeks to amend Schedule 6 to the Ordinance by adding "Under Secretary" to the list of public officers who are empowered to signify the exercise of statutory powers and the performance of statutory duties by the Chief Executive with effect from April 1, 2008.
Hon Audrey Eu will move another resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to repeal the Antiquities and Monuments (Withdrawal of Declaration of Proposed Monument) (No. 128 Pok Fu Lam Road) Notice, which was laid on the table of the Legislative Council on February 20, 2008.
On government motion, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to amend the Trade Descriptions (Definition of Diamond) Regulation, which was laid on the table of the Legislative Council on March 5, 2008.
On bill, Second Reading Debate on the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) (Amendment) Bill 2008 will resume. 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.
On Members' bill, the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Charity Foundation 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 Administration 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. Members of the public can also listen to the meeting via the audio webcast system on the Legislative Council homepage.
Ends/Monday, April 7, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:21
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