************************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (June 22) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will continue the Second Reading debate on the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2016. 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.
Members will also resume the Second Reading debate on the Financial Institutions (Resolution) Bill. 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 Government motions, the Secretary for Transport and Housing will move a proposed resolution under the Road Traffic Ordinance to resolve that the period extended to June 20, 2016 by Legal Notice No. 54 of 2011, and for which there remains in force the limit on the number of vehicles which may be registered as public light buses specified in the Public Light Buses (Limitation on Number) Notice, be further extended to June 20, 2021.
The Secretary for Transport and Housing will also move two separate proposed resolutions under the Public Bus Services Ordinance. The first proposed resolution is moved to resolve that the franchise granted on September 22, 2015 under the Public Bus Services Ordinance to Citybus Limited and published in the Gazette as G.N. 7692 of 2015 is not subject to sections 27, 28, 29 and 31 of that Ordinance for the entire period of the franchise. The second proposed resolution is moved to resolve that the franchise granted on September 22, 2015 under the Public Bus Services Ordinance to New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited and published in the Gazette as G.N. 7693 of 2015 is not subject to sections 27, 28, 29 and 31 of that Ordinance for the entire period of the franchise.
The Secretary for Security will move two separate proposed resolutions under the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance. The first proposed resolution is moved to resolve that the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (Sweden) Order, made by the Chief Executive in Council on February 16, 2016, be approved. The second proposed resolution is moved to resolve that the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (Argentina) Order, made by the Chief Executive in Council on February 16, 2016, be approved.
The Secretary for Home Affairs will move a proposed resolution under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance to resolve that the Legal Aid in Criminal Cases (Amendment) Rules 2016, made by the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee on May 4, 2016, be approved.
The Secretary for Home Affairs will also move a proposed resolution under the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Ordinance to resolve that the West Kowloon Cultural District (Public Open Spaces) Bylaw, made by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority on June 6, 2016, be approved.
On Members' bills, Members will resume the Second Reading debate on the Kowloon Tong Church of the Chinese Christian and Missionary Alliance Incorporation (Amendment) Bill 2014. 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.
The Bank of Communications (Hong Kong) Limited (Merger) Bill will also be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
On Members' motions, Mr Tommy Cheung and Dr Chiang Lai-wan will each move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance. Mr Tommy Cheung will move a proposed resolution to extend the period for amending the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Animal Traders) (Amendment) Regulation 2016, and the Specification of Public Offices (Amendment) Notice 2016 laid on the table of the Council on May 25, 2016 to the meeting of July 13, 2016. Dr Chiang Lai-wan will move a proposed resolution to extend the period for amending the Public Health and Municipal Services (Fees and Charges) (Museums) (Amendment) Regulation 2016 laid on the table of the Council on May 25, 2016 to the meeting of July 13, 2016.
Mr Andrew Leung will move three separate motions under Rule 49E(2) of the Rules of Procedure. The first motion states: "That this Council takes note of Report No.8/15-16 of the House Committee laid on the table of the Council on December 16, 2015 in relation to the Census and Statistics (2016 Population Census) Order, and the Fifth Technical Memorandum for Allocation of Emission Allowances in Respect of Specified Licences." The second motion states: "That this Council takes note of Report No.9/15-16 of the House Committee laid on the table of the Council on January 6, 2016 in relation to the Legislative Council Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 5) Order 2015, and the Maximum Amount of Election Expenses (Legislative Council Election) (Amendment) Regulation 2015." The third motion states: "That this Council takes note of Report No.21/15-16 of the House Committee laid on the table of the Council on June 22, 2016 in relation to the Immigration (Unauthorized Entrants) (Amendment) Order 2016."
Mr Wong Yuk-man will move two separate motions under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance. The first motion states: "That this Council appoints a select committee to inquire into the clashes between the Police and members of the public in Mong Kok from the night of February 8 to the early morning of February 9, 2016 which caused injuries to many people, and other related matters; and that in the performance of its duties the committee be authorised under section 9(2) of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance (Cap 382) to exercise the powers conferred by section 9(1) of that Ordinance." The second motion states: "That this Council appoints a select committee to inquire into the incident of the alleged airport security breach by the family members of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying during the period from the night of March 27 to the small hours of March 28, 2016, and other related matters; and that in the performance of its duties the committee be authorised under section 9(2) of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance (Cap 382) to exercise the powers conferred by section 9(1) of that Ordinance."
Mr Tommy Cheung will move a motion on actively studying the establishment of a middle class commission. The motion states: "That this Council requests the Government to actively study the establishment of a middle class commission."
Mr Frankie Yick, Mr Sin Chung-kai, Mr Christopher Cheung, Dr Kwok Ka-ki and Ms Starry Lee will move separate amendments to Mr Tommy Cheung's motion.
Mr Yiu Si-wing will also move a motion on reconstructing the image of Hong Kong's tourism industry. The motion states: "That according to the Third Quarter Economic Report 2015 published by the Government in November 2015, inbound tourism slackened further in the third quarter of 2015, and overall visitor arrivals to Hong Kong fell by 6.4 per cent as compared to the same period last year, the first decline since the third quarter of 2009; the Report also points out that exports of travel services (covering visitors' spending on shopping, food and beverages, accommodation and entertainment, etc.) fell by 5.6 per cent in real terms in the third quarter, and the average achieved hotel room rate also dropped by 13.1 per cent as compared to the same period last year; as the share of tourists' shopping expenditure in retail sales value has been substantial (around 42 per cent in 2014), the further slackening of inbound tourism has led to a decline in Hong Kong's total retail sales value for seven consecutive months this year, recording the longest downward trend over the past six years; this will also further affect Hong Kong's economy and employment; in this connection, this Council urges the Government to seriously review the reasons for the decline in visitor arrivals to Hong Kong, formulate corresponding measures and allocate additional resources to reconstruct the positive image of the tourism industry, with a view to preventing the continued decline in visitor arrivals to Hong Kong which will affect Hong Kong's economic development."
Mr Tang Ka-piu, Mr Poon Siu-ping, Mr Gary Fan, Mr Paul Tse, Mr Chan Hak-kan, Mr Charles Mok, Mr Sin Chung-kai, Mr Jeffrey Lam and Dr Fernando Cheung will move separate amendments to Mr Yiu Si-wing's motion.
Ms Claudia Mo will move a motion for the adjournment of the Council under Rule 16(4) of the Rules of Procedure. The motion states: "That this Council do now adjourn for the purpose of debating the following issue: the successive 'forced disappearance' of the shareholders and managers of Causeway Bay Books."
In addition, Mr Wong Yuk-man will make a request under section 7 of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance (Cap 382) and Rule 90 of the Rules of Procedure for special leave of the Council to give evidence of Council proceedings.
During the meeting, Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found on the LegCo Website.
Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. They may reserve seats by calling 3919 3399 during office hours. Members of the public can also watch or listen the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website.
Ends/Monday, June 20, 2016
Issued at HKT 20:00
NNNN
