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The Legislative Council will hold a meeting on Wednesday (February 20) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on transformation of old industrial areas.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Chan Kam-lam, states: "That, as there is an increasing shortage of commercial land available for development and, at the same time, many old industrial areas in Hong Kong have a serious ageing problem and the situation of factory building units being left vacant, converted into warehouses or used for other non-industrial purposes is prevalent, the precious land resources are not fully utilised, this council urges the Government to take proactive measures to comprehensively re-plan the old industrial areas to provide a basis for compliance in the course of transformation, with a view to fully utilizing their potentials for development and achieving the objective of optimising the use of land resources; the specific measures include:
(a) fully relaxing the land uses of industrial land, implementing the payment of extra premium by instalments, as well as re-examining and amending the definition of "industrial use" and "factory";
(b) strengthening the role of the Urban Renewal Authority to enable it to actively participate in the redevelopment of old industrial areas;
(c) rationalising the road layout and increasing transport ancillary facilities in the old industrial areas; and
(d) increasing leisure and recreational facilities as well as expanding green areas in the old industrial areas."
Hon Alan Leong Kah-kit and Hon Sin Chung-kai will move separate amendments to Hon Chan Kam-lam's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on the Report of the Subcommittee on Review of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme. The motion, to be proposed by Dr Hon Fernando Cheung, says: "That this Council notes the Report of the Subcommittee on Review of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme."
Meanwhile, Hon Tsang Yok-sing will move a resolution under Article 75 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, to resolve that Rule 28(2) of the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region be amended by repealing everything after "the President may" and substituting "allow short and succinct questions to be put to the public officer making the statement, if in the opinion of the president the questions are relevant to the statement."
On Government motion, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development will move a resolution under the Import and Export Ordinance to resolve that the Import and Export (Registration)(Amendment) Regulation 2008, made by the Chief Executive in Council on 15 January 2008, be approved.
On bills, the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008, the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) Bill, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Bill, the Air Pollution Control (Amendment) Bill 2008 and the Road Traffic Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2008 will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Debates on the bills will be adjourned.
In addition, Members will resume the Second Reading debate on the Domicile 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.
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, February 18, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:56
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