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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 5) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Hon Mrs Anson Chan will take the Legislative Council Oath.
Meanwhile, Members will debate a motion on promoting social enterprises.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Chan Yuen-han, states: "That, although the unemployment rate has come down to a new low, elementary workers still face the plight of low wages, long working hours and even difficulties in securing employment; to alleviate the hardship of elementary workers, the Administration should implement various policies on facilitating the employment of labour in order to improve the employment situation and narrow the gap between the rich and the poor; one of such policies is to ¡§promote the development of social enterprises and boost employment¡¨ as proposed by the Chief Executive in his Policy Address; this Council urges the Government to formulate the following policies to effectively promote social enterprises:
(a) making rules and regulations on social enterprises to clarify the definition of such enterprises;
(b) providing various financing channels for social enterprises, including setting up a public or private seed fund and encouraging financial institutions to offer low-interest loans, etc;
(c) providing loan guarantee and setting up marketing, training and development funds, etc, for social enterprises, with reference to the modes of the funding schemes implemented by the Government for small and medium enterprises;
(d) providing a profits tax exemption period for and offering profits tax concession to newly established social enterprises;
(e) establishing a social enterprises operation support centre to provide free business information, consultation and support services on the setting up and operation of business as well as market news, etc;
(f) the Government and private organisations providing shops, properties and venues with rent exemption/concession to social enterprises; and
(g) reserving a certain percentage of the procurement of government goods and services for social enterprises, in order to provide room for the development of such enterprises."
Hon Frederick Fung, Hon Mrs Sophie Leung and Hon Albert Ho will move separate amendments to Hon Chan Yuen-han's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on comprehensively reviewing subsidised home ownership schemes. The motion, to be proposed by Hon Chan Kam-lam, says: "That this Council urges the Government to expeditiously review afresh the various subsidised home ownership schemes, including the Home Ownership Scheme, Tenants Purchase Scheme and Home Assistance Loan Scheme, with a view to more effectively utilising housing resources and alleviating the burden of housing on the public."
Hon Lee Wing-tat and Hon Wong Kwok-hing will move separate amendments to Hon Chan Kam-lam's motion.
On government motions, the Secretary for Security will move a resolution under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance to approve the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Order 2007, made by the Chief Executive in Council on May 22, 2007.
The Secretary for Security will move another resolution under the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance to approve the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (Corruption) Order, made by the Chief Executive in Council on May 22, 2007.
On bill, the Buildings (Amendment) Bill 2007 will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
During the meeting, Members will also ask the Administration 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. Members of the public can also listen to the meeting via the audio webcast system on the Legislative Council homepage.
Ends/Monday, December 3, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:45
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