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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (January 18) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on reducing the workload of and mental stress on teachers.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Ma Lik, states: 䩕That this Council urges the Government to formulate effective measures to reduce the workload of and mental stress on teachers, so as to facilitate improvement in the quality of education and promotion of the education reform.蒅
Hon Cheung Man-kwong will move an amendment to Hon Ma Lik﷿s motion.
Members will also debate a motion on assisting in the transformation of enterprises which ceased operation due to the Government﷿s new policies. The motion, to be proposed by Hon Vincent Fang Kang, says: 䩕That, as the Government, when introducing new policies in recent years, has often failed to assess the impacts of the new policies on the economic environment and the affected enterprises, and the assistance given to the trades or enterprises concerned is mostly restricted to ex gratia payments, instead of actively helping them to transform, and as many affected trades have difficulties in transforming their business on their own due to their relatively low technology and capital intensity levels, the new policies have strangled the survival of many enterprises and rendered many people unemployed, this Council urges the Government to:
(a) conduct risk assessment on the impacts of new policies before introducing them, and to strike a proper balance after clearly and fully assessing the impacts of the new policies on public interests and the trades;
(b) fully consult the trades before making any important policy decisions; and
(c) set up an inter-departmental working committee to provide various kinds of suitable assistance to the operators and employees of the affected enterprises, so as to help them transform.蒅
Hon Wong Kwok-hing will move an amendment to Hon Vincent Fang Kang﷿s motion.
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, January 16, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:02
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