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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (May 24) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on effective utilisation of fiscal surplus.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Kwong Chi-kin, says, "That, as the fiscal surplus in 2005-06 amounts to $14 billion, which exceeds the expected $4.1 billion by $9.9 billion, this Council urges the Government to effectively utilise the surplus to alleviate the disparity between the rich and the poor, stimulate the economy and increase employment opportunities."
Hon James Tien Pei-chun, Hon Sin Chung-kai, Hon Leung Yiu-chung, Hon Frederick Fung Kin-kee, Dr Hon Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung and Hon Chan Kam-lam will move separate amendments to Hon Kwong Chi-kin's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on legislating to regulate medical devices. The motion, to be proposed by Hon Li Kwok-ying, states, "That, as the Consumer Council's recent reports on the adverse after-effects caused by the use of Hydrophilic Polyacrylamide Gel (PAAG) for breast augmentation have aroused widespread public concern and exposed the loopholes in the existing system for regulating medical devices, this Council urges the Government to:
(a) after consulting the various sectors concerned and the public, legislate to restrict or forbid the implantation of PAAG in human body, subject all medical devices and materials for implantation in human body to proper regulation, and expeditiously put forward a comprehensive legislative proposal for the regulation of medical devices;
(b) review the existing regulatory system and legislation, in order to prevent exaggerated and false promotional claims about services and products for beauty care, body shape-up and plastic surgery, etc, so as to safeguard the health and interests of consumers; and
(c) provide the public and users with more information about various medical devices so that they can make informed choices."
Hon Vincent Fang Kang, Dr Hon Kwok Ka-ki and Hon Fred Li Wah-ming will move separate amendments to Hon Li Kwok-ying's motion.
On Government motions, the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works will move a resolution under the Road Traffic Ordinance to resolve that the period 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 (Cap. 374 sub. leg. K) and extended to June 20, 2006 by Legal Notice No. 141 of 2001, be further extended to June 20, 2011.
The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food will also propose two separate resolutions under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance and the Radiation Ordinance to adjust the fees of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board and the Radiation Board respectively.
On bills, the Hazardous Chemicals Control Bill will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Debate on the Bill will be adjourned. Meanwhile, Members will resume Second Reading debates on the Construction Industry Council (No. 2) Bill and the Revenue Bill 2006. If the Bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Readings, they will then go through the Committee Stage and be read the third time.
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, May 22, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:51
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