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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 30) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on sharing the fruits of economic growth by all the people.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Miriam LAU, states: "That, as the fiscal surplus for this financial year is expected to be unprecedentedly huge, this Council urges that the Government must effectively utilise the huge surplus and share the fruits of economic growth with all the people of Hong Kong and, in addition to those tax reliefs already announced by the Chief Executive, should also make enhanced efforts in returning wealth to the people, alleviating the burden of tax and rates on the public, promoting respect for the elderly and the work of alleviating poverty and helping the disadvantaged, as well as expediting the implementation of infrastructure projects to invest for the future; the relevant measures must include:
(a) providing tax rebate of at least 50% of salaries tax, subject to a ceiling of not less than $15,000;
(b) further widening the tax bands and reducing the marginal rates for salaries tax;
(c) increasing the child allowance and tax allowance for newborn babies;
(d) raising the dependent parent/grandparent allowance, and relaxing the requirement of living together for the purpose of claiming tax deduction;
(e) increasing the amount of health care vouchers for the elderly and lowering the eligibility age for such vouchers;
(f) actively helping the disadvantaged groups;
(g) removing the restrictions on the usage of pre-primary education vouchers;
(h) expediting the implementation of infrastructure projects to boost Hong Kong's competitiveness and create more jobs;
(i) expediting and increasing the provision of community facilities; and
(j) providing sufficient incentives and impetus to promote the development of new and high-tech industries as well as creative industries."
Hon Frederick Fung, Hon James To, Dr Hon Fernando Cheung, Hon Wong Kwok-hing, Hon Chan Kam-lam and Dr Hon Kwok Ka-ki will move separate amendments to Hon Miriam LAU's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on optimising the use of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor. The motion, to be proposed by Hon Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, says: "That, given the persistently very big discrepancy between the traffic flow of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor (i.e. the Shenzhen Bay Port and the Shenzhen Bay Bridge) and the projected figures since its commissioning on July 1 last year, this Council urges the Government to expeditiously discuss with the Mainland authorities to improve the ancillary facilities in the vicinity of the port area, expedite the construction of the Guangshen Yanjiang Expressway and explore incentives on various fronts to attract more cross-boundary vehicles to use the Corridor; at the same time, totally relax the restrictions on the use of cross-boundary vehicular permits to allow vehicles with Lok Ma Chau, Sha Tau Kok or Man Kam To cross-boundary vehicular permits to use the Corridor, with a view to optimising the use of the port, achieving the function of diverting traffic flows and alleviating the traffic congestion at other control points."
Hon Cheung Hok-ming and Hon Andrew Cheng will move separate amendments to Hon Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung's motion.
Meanwhile, Hon Miriam Lau will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Road Traffic (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulation 2008, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on January 16, 2008 to the meeting of March 5, 2008.
On Government motion, the Secretary for Transport and Housing will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to amend the Tsing Sha Control Area (Tolls, Fees and Charges) Regulation laid on the table of the Legislative Council on January 9, 2008.
On bills, the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) (Amendment) Bill 2008 will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Debate on the bill will be adjourned. Members will resume Second Reading debate on the Civil Justice (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2007. If the Bill is supported by Members and received its Second Reading, it will then go through the Committee Stage and be read the third time.
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, January 28, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:31
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