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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (June 7) at 11 am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on maintaining Hong Kong¡¯s role as the leader of economic development in the region.
The motion, to be proposed by Ir Dr Hon Ho Chung-tai, says:¡°That, in order to ensure that Hong Kong can maintain its role as the leader of economic development in the region, this Council urges the Government to expeditiously study the long-term direction and strategy for Hong Kong¡¯s future economic development, with a view to formulating the relevant policies; furthermore, this Council also urges the Government to increase its investment in the infrastructures in Hong Kong, particularly the cross-boundary transport networks.¡±
Hon Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, Hon Andrew Cheng, Hon Chan Kam-lam and Hon Ronny Tong Ka-wah will move separate amendments to Ir Dr Hon Ho Chung-tai¡¯s motion.
Members will also debate a motion on regulating the transactions of new private residential properties. The motion, to be moved by Hon Martin Lee, states: ¡°That, although currently the Government has strict legislation to regulate the securities and futures market for the protection of investors¡¯ interests, there is no regulatory legislation targeted at the transactions in the property market, this Council urges the Government to:
(a) introduce the Sales Descriptions of Uncompleted Residential Properties Bill into the Legislative Council, requiring developers to provide sales brochures regarding any public sale of uncompleted residential properties and include in the brochures such information as the location plan, floor plan, floor area, fittings and finishes, car parking spaces, salient conditions of the Government lease, salient provisions in the Deed of Mutual Covenant, defect liability period, completion date, slope maintenance, price list, number of units put up for sale, mortgage loans and payment scheme, and other fees and charges payable, so as to safeguard the rights and interests of consumers;
(b) formulate legislation for regulating the sale of new residential properties and to prohibit market misconduct including insider dealing, false trading, price rigging and disclosing false or misleading information, so as to enhance the transparency of the property market and ensure its healthy development; and
(c) in view of the increasingly hectic scenes at property sales and promotion activities, which can easily create an atmosphere that renders prospective buyers vulnerable to being misled and deceived, draw up guidelines on property sales and promotion activities in conjunction with the real estate sector, and study the provision of a cooling-off period in the contracts of new private residential properties, in order to allow time for buyers to decide whether or not ultimately to buy the residential properties concerned.¡±
On the other hand, Hon Sin Chung-kai will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Broadcasting (Revision of Licence Fees) Regulation 2006, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on May 17, 2006, to the meeting of July 5, 2006.
Meanwhile, Secretary for Security will move a resolution under the District Councils Ordinance to resolve that the District Councils Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 3) Order 2006, made by the Chief Executive in Council on May 9, 2006, be approved.
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, June 5, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:38
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