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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting tomorrow (June 11) at 11 am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on implementation of "one country, two systems".
The motion, to be moved by Hon Martin Lee, states: "That this Council urges the Central Government to abide by the Basic Law and strictly require that no department of the Central Government, including the Central Government Liaison Office, and no local government in the Mainland shall interfere in the affairs which the Hong Kong SAR Government administers on its own in accordance with the Basic Law, so as to implement "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong" with "a high degree of autonomy"."
Hon Tam Yiu-chung will move an amendment to Hon Martin Leeˇ¦s motion.
Members will also debate a motion on providing food and nutrition support to the grassroots. The motion, to be proposed by Hon Kwong Chi-kin, says: "That the rise in food prices worldwide has led to a surge in local food prices, resulting in escalating inflation in Hong Kong, with last month's year-on-year Composite Consumer Price Index recording an increase of 5.4%, the income of the grassroots being eroded by inflation, forcing many grassroots and poor people to reduce their expenditure on food, buy less food or switch to buying food products of poorer quality, and some people even have to collect leftovers in the markets or at the back entrances of restaurants, such situations will easily lead to children who are growing up and the frail elderly suffering from malnutrition; in this connection, this Council urges the Government to formulate the following measures to assist the grassroots in countering the surge in food prices:
(a) the Administration making reference to overseas practices and providing poor students with free breakfasts and lunches, as well as nutritious foodstuffs such as fruits and milk, etc to enable them to be well-fed and take in sufficient nutrition;
(b) expeditiously providing rent-free units in poor and remote districts for setting up co-operatives which make bulk purchase of food, hot food centres or food banks, so as to provide meals as well as basic food and oil supplies to those poor people who have difficulty in paying for their daily meals;
(c) issuing food coupons and meal coupons to those poor people who cannot benefit from food banks or hot food centres to enable them to have enough food for their daily meals;
(d) closely monitoring the supply situation and price increase of basic food and oil supplies, and curbing large supermarket chains from manipulating the supply prices charged by suppliers;
(e) encouraging the general public and private organisations to donate food to food banks and hot food centres; and
(f) allocating more resources to provide free meal delivery service to the poor elderly."
Hon Albert Ho, Hon Frederick Fung and Hon Selina Chow will move separate amendments to Hon Kwong Chi-kinˇ¦s motion.
On Government motions, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development will move separate resolutions under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to amend 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 and the Trade Descriptions (Marking) (Platinum) (Amendment) Order 2008, which were laid on the table of the Legislative Council on April 23, 2008.
On bill, the Supplementary Appropriation (2007-2008) Bill will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
On Membersˇ¦ bill, the The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Amendment) Bill 2008 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/Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:22
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