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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 8) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on implementing a licensing regime for property management companies and establishing a Building Affairs Tribunal.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Choy So-yuk, states: "That, in order to enhance the existing building management standard, avoid malpractices and effectively deal with disputes involving the management of private buildings (including those public housing estates and Home Ownership Scheme courts the management of which has been outsourced to private management companies), this Council urges the Government, apart from clearly defining in the Building Management Ordinance the powers and responsibilities of the parties concerned, to expeditiously implement a licensing regime for property management companies to strengthen their regulation and, at the same time, establish a Building Affairs Tribunal to streamline and speed up the handling of the increasing disputes among individual owners, developers, owners' corporations and property management companies."
Hon Tommy Cheung, Hon Alan Leong Kah-kit, Hon Albert Chan, Hon James To and Hon Leung Kwok-hung will move separate amendments to Hon Choy So-yuk's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on opening up the airwaves. The motion, to be proposed by Hon Albert Chan, says: "That, while the airwaves should be the common asset of all people, only two sound broadcasting licences have so far been issued by the Government, subjecting the public's speech to unreasonable restrictions and rendering many organisations and individuals unable to disseminate their messages through the airwaves; with the forum for speech diminishing, some members of the public have even set up community radio stations on their own in recent years, but these radio stations have been shut down by the Administration; furthermore, many members of the community have over the years requested the early establishment of public access radio and television channels, so that the public's right to access the airwaves will not be deprived; in view of the above, this Council urges the Government to amend the Broadcasting Ordinance expeditiously to implement the following measures:
(a) opening up the airwaves to allow the public to operate radio stations on their own, so as to make available diversified broadcasting services;
(b) opening up public access television channels at an early date; and
(c) fully implementing digital broadcasting at an early date to increase the number of broadcasting channels."
Meanwhile, Hon Miriam Lau will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) Regulation, the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Safety and Survey) Regulation, the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Compulsory Third Party Risks Insurance) Regulation and the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Works) Regulation, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on October 11, 2006, to the meeting of November 29, 2006.
The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food will also move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to amend the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Exhibitions) (Amendment) Regulation 2006, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on July 10, 2006.
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 website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public may also visit the Legislative Council website and click "Voice Broadcast" to listen to the live audio webcast of the meeting.
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, November 6, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:25
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