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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (November 10) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on helping needy persons acquire their homes.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Lee Wing-tat, states: "That, as after the Government has put forward the My Home Purchase Plan, private residential property prices still continue to rise and the Plan is unable to meet society's demand for subsidised home ownership, this Council urges the Government to expeditiously increase the supply of land and public and private housing, resume the Home Ownership Scheme ('HOS'), re-launch the Sale of Flats to Sitting Tenants Scheme, and re-examine the practice of allowing eligible white form applicants to purchase HOS flats without premium paid in the secondary market for HOS flats, with a view to helping needy persons acquire their homes.".
Hon Frederick Fung, Hon Wong Kwok-kin, Hon Chan Kam-lam, Dr Hon Priscilla Leung, Hon Ronny Tong and Hon Leung Kwok-hung will move amendments to Hon Lee Wing-tat's motion respectively.
Members will debate another motion on Work Incentive Transport Subsidy Scheme. The motion, to be moved by Dr Hon Pan Pey-chyou, says: "That, in order to relieve the burden of travelling expenses on low-income employees and encourage them to stay in employment, the Chief Executive has put forward the 'Work Incentive Transport Subsidy Scheme' (WITSS) in the 2010-11 Policy Address for application by all eligible employees in Hong Kong, and the Scheme will replace the 'Transport Support Scheme' (TSS); given that the existing TSS still has deficiencies resulting in some low-income workers not being benefited, this Council urges the Government to adopt the following criteria in formulating the specific details and eligibility requirements for WITSS, so as to enable a greater number of grassroot workers to receive assistance:
(a) the ceiling of the total value of applicants' personal assets should be set at a level higher than the $44,000 under the existing TSS;
(b) the ceiling of applicantsĄŻ monthly income should be set at a level higher than the $6,500 under the existing TSS;
(c) the amount of allowance for eligible persons should be calculated on the basis of 72 hours of work in every four weeks, and people who work less than 72 hours in every four weeks may also receive the allowance pro rata according to the actual number of working hours, with a view to benefiting part-time employees;
(d) no application deadline should be set for the allowance; and
(e) a mechanism should be established for regular reviews and periodic adjustments of the ceiling of the total value of personal assets, the ceiling of monthly income and the amount of allowance prescribed under WITSS."
Hon Wong Sing-chi, Hon Li Fung-ying, Hon Ip Kwok-him and Hon Miriam Lau will move amendments to Dr Hon Pan Pey-chyou's motion respectively.
Moreover, Hon Li Fung-ying will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Buildings (Amendment) Ordinance 2008 (Commencement) Notice 2010, Building (Minor Works) Regulation (Commencement) Notice 2010, and Building (Administration) (Amendment) Regulation 2009 (Commencement) Notice, which were laid on the table of the Legislative Council on October 13, 2010, to the meeting of December 1,2010.
Hon Audrey Eu will move a resolution under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance to extend the period for amending the technical memorandum referred to in section 37B(2) of the Air Pollution Ordinance to the meeting of December 8, 2010.
On Government's motion, the Secretary for Transport and Housing will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to amend the Port Control (Public Cargo Working Area) Order 2010 laid on the table of the Legislative Council on July 14, 2010.
On Bills, the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (Financial Institutions) Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for First and Second Readings. Debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
Meanwhile, Second Reading Debate on the Arbitration Bill 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.
In addition, 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 (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 web broadcast system on the Legislative Council homepage.
Ends/Monday, November 8, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:16
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