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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (June 18) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on reducing the duties on motor vehicle fuels.
The motion, to be proposed by Hon Lau Kong-wah, says: "That, as international oil prices have repeatedly reached record highs, this Council urges the SAR Government to reduce the duties on unleaded petrol and Euro V diesel by half, so as to relieve the pressure of inflation and persistently high oil prices on the public and the relevant industries."
Hon Wong Kwok-hing, Hon Frederick Fung, Hon Chan Kam-lam, Hon Miriam Lau and Hon Sin Chung-kai will move separate amendments to Hon Lau Kong-wah's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on legislating to regulate debt collection practices. The motion, to be moved by Hon Albert Chan, states: "That, as debt collection practices are a serious harassment to many members of the public, and some people even committed suicide out of fear, and for many years in the past, tens of thousands of cases relating to debt collection malpractices were reported every year, and the Law Reform Commission (LRC) also recommended to the Government in 2002 to make harassment of debtors a criminal offence and to set up a statutory licensing system to monitor debt collection agencies; given that many people are harassed by debt collection practices, and some even feel that their lives and safety are threatened by such practices, this Council strongly requests that the Government should adopt the LRC's recommendations and expeditiously regulate, by way of legislation, debt collection agencies and their debt collection practices, so as to protect the public against such harassment and threat in their daily life."
Meanwhile, Hon Emily Lau will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Building (Planning) (Amendment) Regulation 2008, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on May 21, 2008, to the meeting of July 9, 2008.
Hon Choy So-yuk will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Building (Refuse Storage and Material Recovery Chambers and Refuse Chutes) (Amendment) Regulation 2008, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on May 21, 2008, to the meeting of July 9, 2008.
Hon Sin Chung-kai will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Telecommunications (Carrier Licences) (Amendment) Regulation 2008 and the Telecommunications (Level of Spectrum Utilisation Fees) (Second Generation Mobile Services) (Amendment) Regulation 2008, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on May 21, 2008, to the meeting of July 9, 2008.
On bills, Members will resume Second Reading on the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2007, the Trade Descriptions (Amendment) Bill 2007, the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2007, and the Buildings (Amendment) Bill 2007. If the bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Reading, they will then go through the Committee Stage and be read the third time.
Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Amendment) Bill 2008 will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Second Reading debate on the bill will be adjourned.
During the meeting, Members will ask the Government 19 questions on various policy areas, five 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 website (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, June 16, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:46
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