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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (January 20) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will resume Second Reading debates on the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014 and the Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill 2015. If the Bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Reading, they will then go through the Committee stage and be read the third time.
Meanwhile, the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2016 will be introduced into the Council for the First and the Second Reading. Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
On Member's Bill, the Bank of Communications (Hong Kong) Limited (Merger) Bill will also be introduced into the Council for the First and the Second Reading. Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
On Members' motions, 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."
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% 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% in real terms in the third quarter, and the average achieved hotel room rate also dropped by 13.1% as compared to the same period last year; as the share of tourists' shopping expenditure in retail sales value has been substantial (around 42% 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 Peter Mok, Mr Sin Chung-kai, Mr Jeffrey Lam and Dr Fernando Cheung will move separate amendments to Mr Yiu's motion.
Mr Andrew Leung will move a motion under Rule 49E(2) of the Rules of Procedure. The 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."
Mr Leung will also move another motion under Rule 49E(2) of the Rules of Procedure. The 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."
In addition, 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.
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 in 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 web broadcast system on the LegCo Website.
Ends/Monday, January 18, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:00
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