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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 29) at 11am in the Legislative Council Chamber. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on enhancing the regulation of commercial marketing practices.

    The motion, to be moved by Hon CHAN Kam-lam, says: "That, as the practice of direct marketing has become increasingly prevalent in commercial activities and has given rise to such problems as consumers receiving lots of nuisance telephone calls and obstruction of access by on-street promotional activities, and as the number of consumers' complaints about being misled or deceived by salespersons are also on the increase, in order to safeguard consumers' rights and interests, this Council urges the Government to adopt measures to enhance the regulation of commercial marketing practices, including:

(a) establishing a system for "blocking promotional calls";

(b) requiring telecommunication companies to provide customers with services to filter spam promotional calls or short messages;

(c) requiring the departments concerned to strictly enforce the relevant legislative provisions, so as to prevent excessive nuisance to the public caused by on-street promotional activities;

(d) encouraging commercial clients to simplify the provisions of their contracts with customers, so as to make the provisions more explicit and enhance their transparency; and

(e) raising penalties in order to impose severe punishments against misleading or deceptive marketing behaviours."

    Hon James TO Kun-sun will move an amendment to Hon CHAN Kam-lam's motion.

    Members will also debate a motion proposed by Hon Albert Jinghan CHENG on immediate resumption of sale of Home Ownership Scheme flats. His motion says: "That, since the beginning of this year, the local economy is showing signs of revival and the property market is also regaining vitality, the Government should no longer freeze the sale of Home Ownership Scheme ("HOS") flats to boost the property market, and as the HOS flats are mainly targeted at public rental housing ("PRH") tenants and low-income households who cannot afford private housing, the resumption of sale of HOS flats will have minimal impact on the private housing market, and it is only a waste of public resources to allow some HOS flats to remain unoccupied; as such, this Council urges the Government to immediately put up the surplus HOS flats for sale by phases, including the more than 3 000 flats which have never been offered for sale in the market as well as the over 10 000 unsold flats in existing HOS courts and returned HOS flats, and to consider the construction of new HOS estates as well as to consult the public on its overall housing strategy, including the policies on HOS flats and PRH rent, etc."

    Hon Frederick FUNG Kin-kee and Hon CHAN Kam-lam will move separate amendments to Hon Albert Jinghan CHENG's motion.

    Moreover, the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to amend the Road Traffic (Traffic Control)(Amendment) Regulation 2005 and the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles)(Amendment)(No. 2) Regulation 2005, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on May 11, 2005.

    The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food will move a resolution under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance to seek the Council's approval on the Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2005 and the Poisons List (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2005, made by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board on June 4, 2005.

    On bills, the Financial Reporting Council Bill will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. The Second Reading debate on this bill will be adjourned.

    Second Reading debates on the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005, the Supplementary Appropriation (2004-2005) Bill, the Companies (Amendment) Bill 2004, the Transfer of Sentenced Persons (Amendment) (Macau) Bill, the Aviation Security (Amendment) Bill 2005, the Child Care Services (Amendment) Bill 2005, the Undesirable Medical Advertisements (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004, and The Methodist Church, Hong Kong, Incorporation (Amendment) Bill 2005, which is to be moved by Hon LAU Chin-shek, will resume. If these eight Bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Readings, they will then go through the Committee Stage and be read the third time.

    Meanwhile, Hon Alan LEONG Kah-kit will present the Report of the Independent Police Complaints Council 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 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 27, 2005
Issued at HKT 17:38

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