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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (February 8) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on the reports of the Subcommittee on West Kowloon Cultural District Development.
The motion, to be proposed by Hon Alan Leong Kah-kit, says: "That this Council endorses the Phase I and Phase II Reports of the Subcommittee on West Kowloon Cultural District Development."
Members will also debate a motion on improving the notification mechanism for contamination of potable water supply to Hong Kong and enhancing coordination in the supply of potable water to Hong Kong. The motion, to be moved by Hon Albert Jinghan Cheng, states: "That, as Hong Kong has to pay a high water price under the current water supply agreement between the HKSAR Government and the Guangdong Provincial Government while there is no assurance of the water quality, and many incidents of contamination of potable water have recently occurred in the Mainland, in which some local officials were even found to have hidden the truth; moreover, with the industrial and economic developments as well as the population growth in the Pearl River Delta ("PRD") region, the demand for potable water in the region has substantially increased, but the water pollution problem has worsened and led to a continuing decrease in clean and potable water; furthermore, as the existing notification mechanism for contamination of potable water supply to Hong Kong still has deficiencies, this Council urges the HKSAR Government, in discussing the finalization of the specific details of a new water supply agreement, to improve jointly with the Guangdong Provincial Government the existing notification mechanism for contamination of potable water supply to Hong Kong, including imposing a time limit for notification; and to discuss ways to enhance coordination in the supply of potable water to Hong Kong and allow flexibility in determining the supply quantity, so as to avoid drawing unneeded water when there was overflow from local reservoirs and hence resulting in wastage; in addition, if the Guangdong Provincial Government establishes a mechanism for the planning and coordination of water supply in the PRD region, the HKSAR Government should actively take part in the related work."
Hon Wong Ting-kwong and Hon Fred Li will move separate amendments to Hon Albert Jinghan Cheng's motion.
Moreover, Members will debate a motion on policy on public service broadcasting. The motion, to be moved by Hon Audrey Eu, states: "That this Council urges the Government to ensure that public service broadcasting in Hong Kong:
(a) respects editorial independence;
(b) defends the freedom of the press and freedom of speech;
(c) opens up public access channels at an early date;
(d) provides diversified information; and
(e) caters for the needs of the minority and the socially disadvantaged groups."
Hon Sin Chung-kai and Hon Li Kwok-ying will move separate amendments to Hon Audrey Eu's motion.
Meanwhile, 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, February 6, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:54
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