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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (January 31) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on a comprehensive review on mental health policy.
The motion, to be proposed by Dr Hon Kwok Ka-ki, says: "That, as the number of consultations by psychiatric patients in Hong Kong increases significantly every year and the annual number of consultations and first consultations at the psychiatric specialist out-patient service of public hospitals also rises drastically, but the Government fails to provide adequate support in this respect, resulting in a serious shortage of resources and health care personnel in psychiatric services at present and dire challenges for diagnosis, treatment, medication, hospitalisation and rehabilitation services, as well as patients being denied more suitable medicines and better treatment, this Council urges the Government to:
(a) expeditiously conduct a comprehensive review on Hong Kongˇ¦s mental health policy to cause the public to pay proper attention to mental health;
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(b) allocate more resources to psychiatric services for recruiting more health care and other specialist personnel, strengthening relevant training for health care personnel across the board, enhancing the ability of family doctors to treat relevant illnesses and improving the existing psychiatric services in such areas as diagnosis, treatment, medication, hospitalisation and rehabilitation;
(c) integrate and coordinate the territoryˇ¦s medical and social services in mental health, and explore a new funding mechanism, so that the public can enjoy more comprehensive mental health services;
(d) invite people concerned across the community, including frontline health care personnel, patients and their family members, social workers, social welfare organisations, academics and other people who are concerned about mental health in Hong Kong, to jointly take part in the formulation and review of the overall mental health policy;
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(e) enhance public education on mental health, so as to deepen the publicˇ¦s understanding of mental health and reduce discrimination of the community against mental patients and ex-mental patients; and
(f) conduct regular studies on the situation of and policy on mental health in Hong Kong, so that corresponding measures can be taken to upgrade the mental health services in Hong Kong."
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Dr Hon Fernando Cheung and Dr Hon Joseph Lee Kok-long will move separate amendments to Dr Hon Kwok Ka-kiˇ¦s motion.
Members will also debate a motion on assisting in the transformation of factory buildings. The motion, to be moved by Hon Mrs Selina Chow, states: "That, as factories have been relocated to the north in large numbers and the economy of Hong Kong has totally shifted towards being dominated by service industries, which has resulted in a high vacancy rate of local factory buildings and has turned some traditional industrial districts into "stricken areas", which is a tremendous waste of social resources, this Council urges the Government to adopt in a timely and appropriate manner more flexible policies to assist in the transformation of traditional factory buildings, so as to adapt to the present economic and commercial development situation, which include:
(a) reviewing afresh and amending the definitions of "industrial use" and "factory" in the relevant legislation and policies;
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(b) on the premise of meeting building safety requirements, enhancing the coordination among relevant departments to provide one-stop services, so as to streamline and expedite the processing and approval of applications by factory building owners for changing the use of land or factory buildings; and
(c) at town planning level, encouraging overall planning for vacated factory buildings in old industrial areas, such as developing theme areas for creative industries, electrical appliance cities and merchandising cities, so that trades other than the traditional industries can also make use of factory buildings for their development, with a view to revitalising old industrial areas, reviving community economy and creating more employment opportunities.ˇ¨
On bills, Members will resume Second Reading debate on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel Bill. 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.
In addition, the Housing (Amendment) Bill 2007 will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Second Reading debate on the bill will be adjourned.
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 (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. Members of the public can also listen to the meeting via the audio webcast system on the Legislative Council homepage.
Ends/Monday, January 29, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:19
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