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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (December 15) at 2.30 pm in the Legislative Council Chamber. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on the legalization of gambling on football matches.
The motion, to be moved by Hon YEUNG Yiu-chung, says "That, this council opposes the legalization of gambling on football matches, and urges the Government to step up enforcement actions and enhance public education, so as to effectively combat illegal gambling on football matches."
Hon CHOY So-yuk will move an amendment to the above motion.
Members will also debate a motion on long-term transport strategy for Hong Kong.
The motion, to be proposed by Hon Mrs Miriam LAU Kin-yee, says "That, in order to develop a safe, comfortable, environmentally-friendly and efficient transport system which matches the growth of Hong Kong's population and economy in the 21st century, this Council urges the Government, in implementing the various proposals contained in 'Hong Kong Moving Ahead: A Transport Strategy For The Future', to provide a new transport infrastructure in a timely manner to match population growth; to conduct people-oriented transport and town planning to promote harmony between people and the environment; to optimize the use of space to achieve separation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic; to provide sufficient support facilities to facilitate freight movements; to maximize the functions of various public transport means and ensure that they have room for development individually; to promote fair competition among different means of public transport to provide choices for the public; and to formulate a timetable for implementing the proposals in the transport strategy, as well as to further explore other forward-looking and innovative initiatives to complement the inadequacies in the existing proposals."
Hon Christine LOH and Hon Albert HO Chun-yan will move amendments to the above motion separately.
In addition, Hon Ronald ARCULLI will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the following subsidiary legislation to the meeting of 5 January 2000: Legislative Council ˇ]Registration of Electorsˇ^ ˇ]Appealsˇ^ ˇ]Amendmentˇ^ Regulation 1999 and the Declaration of Geographical Constituencies ˇ]Legislative Councilˇ^ Order 1999 and the Electoral Affairs Commission ˇ]Registration of Electorsˇ^ ˇ]Geographical Constituenciesˇ^ ˇ]Legislative Councilˇ^ ˇ]Amendmentˇ^ Regulation 1999.
The Secretary for Trade and Industry will also propose a resolution under the Import and Export Ordinance to seek the Council's approval on the Import and Export ˇ]Registrationˇ^ ˇ]Amendmentˇ^ Regulation 1999, made by the Chief Executive in Council on 16 November 1999.
On bills, the Landlord and Tenant ˇ]Consolidationˇ^(Amendment) Bill 1999, the Education ˇ]Amendmentˇ^Bill 1999 and the Drug Trafficking and Organized Crimes ˇ]Amendmentˇ^Bill 1999 will be introduced into the Council for first and second readings. Debates on these bills will be adjourned.
Second reading debates on the Adaptation of Laws (No.10) Bill 1999 and the Industrial Training ˇ]Clothing Industryˇ^ (Amendment) Bill 1999 will be resumed. 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, Hon Andrew WONG will present the Report of the Bills Committee on Adaptation of Laws (No.10) Bill 1999 to the Council.
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).
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.
End/Monday, December 13, 1999
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