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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting tomorrow (May 14) at 11 am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on legislating to strengthen the protection for the rights and interests of property buyers.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Albert Jinghan Cheng, states: "That, the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) issued a Supplement to the Code of Measuring Practice (the Supplement) on February 5 this year to spell out more clearly the way of measuring the saleable area of properties and require that the saleable area and items of ancillary accommodation, such as bay window, garden, flat roof, etc, should be separately measured and stated, but some estate developers have instantly indicated that they have no intention of complying with the Supplement; in order to prevent the public from being confused by the varying definitions of saleable area and suffered losses when buying properties, this Council calls on the Government to require by way of legislation that when uncompleted and completed flats are offered for sale by developers, the saleable area specified in the sales brochures must be measured in the way prescribed in the Supplement issued by HKIS, and the saleable area so measured be used as the basis for calculating the average price per square foot of the properties, so as to protect the rights and interests of consumers."
Hon Lee Wing-tat and Hon Chan Kam-lam will move separate amendments to Hon Albert Jinghan Cheng's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on perfecting lawn facilities in parks. The motion, to be proposed by Hon Bernard Chan, says: "That this Council urges that the Government should, in the course of urban planning, including the development of future projects such as the West Kowloon Cultural District and the New Central Harbourfront, study the planting of more lawns in the open spaces planned to be provided, allocate more resources for the maintenance of lawns, make available individual lawns for use by the public and reduce unnecessary regulatory control, so that members of the public, especially small children, can better enjoy these public facilities."
Hon Wong Kwok-hing, Hon Audrey Eu, Hon Mrs Selina Chow, Hon James To and Hon Choy So-yuk will move separate amendments to Hon Bernard Chan's motion.
Meanwhile, Hon Chan Kam-lam will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Trade Descriptions (Provision of Information on Natural Fei Cui) Order, the Trade Descriptions (Provision of Information on Diamond) Order, the Trade Descriptions (Provision of Information on Regulated Electronic Products) Order, the Trade Descriptions (Marking) (Gold and Gold Alloy) (Amendment) Order 2008, the Trade Descriptions (Marking) (Platinum) (Amendment) Order 2008, and the Trade Descriptions (Definition of Platinum) (Amendment) Regulation 2008, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on April 23, 2008, to the meeting of June 11, 2008.
On bills, the Second Reading debates on the Munsang College and Heep Yunn School (Change of Corporate Names and General Amendments) Bill 2008 and the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Charity Foundation Bill will resume. If the Bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Readings, they 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/Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:13
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