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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (November 9) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on constitutional reform proposal.
The motion, to be proposed by Hon Ronny Tong Ka-wah, says: "That this council considers that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ("HKSAR") Government is responsible for putting forward a constitutional reform proposal that is acceptable to Hong Kong citizens and which encompasses concrete democratisation processes; such proposal should not confer upon the appointed District Council members the rights to select the Chief Executive or elect Members of the Legislative Council; furthermore, the HKSAR Government is also responsible for setting out in its proposal a roadmap and a timetable for achieving universal suffrage as well as the relevant details of the elections."
Members will also debate a motion on minimum wage, standard working hours.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Chan Yuen-han, states: "That, as the working conditions of the grass-roots workers are worsening, their wages are low and their working hours are long, the low-income population is still increasing despite Hong Kong's substantial economic growth last year, and as some low-income families have to even rely on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance payment to eke out a living, this council suggests that, to enable the grass-roots workers to share the fruits of economic growth which they deserve, the Government should encourage employers to increase the pay and improve the fringe benefits for their employees and, at the same time, urges the Government to expeditiously:
(a) legislate for a minimum wage to safeguard the most basic living standard of the workers, with priority accorded to individual low-income industries and jobs, so that employers of private enterprises are required to take on the social responsibility they should shoulder, so as to prevent them from shifting their business operating costs to the Government and thereby increasing the expenditure on social welfare; and
(b) regulate the number of working hours, reasonable rest breaks during working hours and overtime allowance, so as to ensure that employees have sufficient time for rest and studies."
Hon Andrew Cheng will move an amendment to Chan Yuen-han's motion.
Moreover, Hon Fred Li will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Harmful Substances in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2005, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on October 12, 2005, to the meeting of November 30, 2005.
Hon Miriam Lau will also move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Closed Area (Hong Kong Ministerial Conference of World Trade Organization) Order, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on October 12, 2005, to the meeting of November 30, 2005.
On bills, Members will resume Second Reading on the Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill 2005. If the bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will then go through the Committee Stage and be read the third time.
Meanwhile, 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, November 7, 2005
Issued at HKT 17:33
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