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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 22) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on expectations for the new Chief Executive.

    The motion, to be proposed by Hon Martin LEE, states: "That this Council urges the new Chief Executive to carefully consider the recommendations and expectations of this Council in relation to policies regarding democracy, human rights, rule of law and people's livelihood, etc."

    Hon Howard YOUNG, Hon TAM Yiu-chung and Hon WONG Kwok-hing will separately move amendments to Hon Martin LEE?s motion.

    Members will also debate a motion on enhancing the quality of early childhood education. The motion, to be moved by Hon CHEUNG Man-kwong, says: "That, as the Government is actively carrying out the integration of early childhood education (?ECE?), which includes the harmonisation of teacher qualifications and the regulatory guidelines for kindergartens and nurseries, with a view to achieving quality ECE in a progressive manner, this Council urges the Government to make use of the opportunity to improve the quality of ECE, increase subsidized training places for in-service kindergarten teachers (?KG teachers?) and fully upgrade the qualifications of KG teachers to diploma level, so as to help them meet the basic academic qualifications required of KG teachers in advanced countries and to lay a foundation for upgrading the qualifications of KG teachers to degree level; furthermore, in order to avoid wastage of qualified KG teachers, the Government should formulate a pay scale for teachers with diploma or degree in ECE, and provide additional grants to ECE organizations if the number of their diploma or degree teachers reaches a specified proportion, so as to encourage and assist these organizations in upgrading the qualifications of their teachers without having to keep on increasing their school fees; in the long run, the Administration should consider integrating ECE into subsidized education, and should continuously enhance the quality of ECE to meet the expectations of the community for improving ECE."

    On bills, the Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill 2005 will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Second Reading debate on the bill will be adjourned.

    In the meantime, Hon SIN Chung-kai will present the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Annual Report 2004 and address the Council. Hon Tommy CHEUNG will also present the Independent Commission Against Corruption Complaints Committee Annual Report 2004 and address 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) or the Legislative Council website (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 20, 2005
Issued at HKT 16:33

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