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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (March 8) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on promoting health care reform and health care financing.
The motion, to be proposed by Hon Dr Kwok Ka-ki, says:＾That, as the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau will publish a consultation paper on health care financing this year, and the community is widely concerned about the direction of Hong Kong's health care reform and the changes in the financing models for public and private medical care services, this Council urges the Government to expeditiously examine the long-term difficulties faced by Hong Kong's health care system, and to put forward feasible options and measures to improve the current situation; such measures should include:
(a) reviewing the existing framework for the provision of public and private medical care services; enhancing the transparency of the operation and decision-making process of the Hospital Authority; and regulating the operation of medical groups, with a view to facilitating the communication and co-operation between public and private medical organisations;
(b) mapping out the direction of health care reform and clearly defining the objectives of public medical care services; disclosing to the public such information as the costing methodology of the services; seeking a consensus in society on the direction of health care reform; and drawing up a timetable for implementing such reform;
(c) expediting the progress in setting up an electronic system for sharing patient records, thereby establishing a mechanism and procedures for referring patients between public and private health care systems;
(d) comprehensively reviewing the supply and demand of as well as the planning for health care manpower; and enhancing the training for health care personnel, improving their remuneration packages and work environment as well as boosting their morale, so as to solve the problem of wastage of health care personnel and prevent the emergence of a succession gap; and
(e) expeditiously formulating and implementing a health care financing plan that can sustain the development of health care services, so as to relieve the burden on the public and to ensure that the grassroots and the vulnerable receive appropriate health care services and that the middle-class is given fair opportunities to obtain medical treatment; in formulating the health care financing models, the Government should consider providing tax deductions for people who utilise private medical care services and take out medical insurance, and should also consider implementing the medical fee increase option by phases and should, at the same time, establish a proper safety net as a complementary measure while implementing the option."
Hon Li Kwok-ying, Hon Andrew Cheng and Hon Chan Yuen-han will move separate amendments to Dr Kwok Ka-ki's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on domestic violence. The motion, to be moved by Hon Margaret Ng, states: "That, in view of the serious problem of domestic violence, this Council urges the Government to expeditiously formulate effective measures to curb such violence."
Hon Choy So-yuk, Hon Alan Leong Kah-kit and Hon Albert Ho will move separate amendments to Hon Margaret Ng's motion.
Moreover, Members will debate a motion on expeditiously improving the traffic arrangements in the western and northwestern parts of the New Territories. The motion, to be moved by Hon Mrs Selina Chow, states: "That, given the impending commissioning of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor at the end of this year, which will substantially increase the traffic load in the western and northwestern parts of the New Territories, this Council urges the Government to formulate as early as possible corresponding strategies, including buying out the ownership of Route 3 at a reasonable price and opening it up for use by motorists, as well as constructing the Easterly Link Road that connects the Deep Bay Link and Route 3, so as to divert the traffic flow from Tuen Mun Road, thereby alleviating the deteriorating traffic congestion in that district and avoiding causing great nuisance or inconvenience to local residents."
Hon Wong Kwok-hing, Hon Cheung Hok-ming and Hon Albert Ho will move separate amendments to Hon Mrs Selina Chow's motion.
On the other hand, Hon Fred Li will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Amendment of Fourth Schedule) Notice 2006 and the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Licensing of Livestock Keeping) (Amendment) Regulation 2006, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on February 8, 2006, to the meeting of March 29, 2006.
Hon Miriam Lau will also move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Fugitive Offenders (Finland) Order, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on February 22, 2006, to the meeting of April 26, 2006.
Meanwhile, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury will move a resolution under the Motor Vehicles (First Registration Tax) Ordinance. Under the proposed resolution, the Resolution made and passed by the Legislative Council on May 14, 1997, and published in the Gazette as Legal Notice No. 237 of 1997, as amended by section 3 of the Revenue (No. 2) Ordinance 2000 (27 of 2000) and by the Resolution made and passed by the Legislative Council on March 19, 2003 and published in the Gazette as Legal Notice No. 77 of 2003, be amended by repealing "2006" and substituting "2009".
On bills, Chief Executive Election and Legislative Council Election (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2006, Births, Deaths and Marriages (Digital Image) Bill and Interception of Communications and Surveillance Bill will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Second Reading debate on the bills will be adjourned.
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, March 6, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:24
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