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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (July 8) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on facing up to the aspirations of the people participating in the march on 1 July.
The motion, to be proposed by Hon James TO, says: " That it is anticipated that on 1 July this year, a large number of people will take part in the march to express their dissatisfaction at the Government¡¦s lack of sincerity to implement dual universal suffrage for the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council elections in 2012 as well as its various blunders in the implementation of policies, including the failure to put in place an effective system to regulate the sale of financial products and the persistently high unemployment rate, etc, this Council urges the Government to face up to the aspirations of the people participating in the march.¡¨
Hon Emily LAU and Hon Audrey EU will move separate amendments to Hon James TO¡¦s motion.
Members will debate another motion on assisting local enterprises in brand building and product development. The motion, to be moved by Dr Hon LAM Tai-fai, says: ¡§That, as market competition is getting keener, Hong Kong enterprises engaging in original equipment manufacturing and processing businesses, especially the small and medium enterprises, are facing problems of diminishing competitiveness and narrowing room for development, and coupled with the present impact of the global financial crisis, slackening European and US economy and declining purchasing power, the export business of Hong Kong enterprises is hard hit and their operation is getting more difficult; in order to achieve the objective of ¡¥supporting enterprises and preserving employment¡¦, this Council urges the Government to proactively assist Hong Kong enterprises in brand building and product development so as to enhance the uniqueness of their products and services, thereby increasing their market competitiveness and opening up a diversified market, as well as safeguarding local employment opportunities, the measures include:
(a) supporting brand and design research projects so as to provide the industry with technical and information support for the development of product branding and service branding, and establishing a high-level standing institution which is specifically responsible for initiating, studying, formulating and promoting an overall development strategy for Hong Kong brands, as well as planning and coordinating brand-related activities organized by various sectors, in particular the industrial and business sectors, of Hong Kong;
(b) systematically establishing a platform for promoting local brands, such as turning industrial buildings into exhibition and sales centres for brand-name products and setting up character precincts in immigration control points to showcase Hong Kong¡¦s brand-name products, with a view to exploring business opportunities and promoting employment;
(c) providing substantive support for Hong Kong brands to expand in the Mainland market and implementing the trade and investment facilitation measures in relation to the cooperation in areas of commodity inspection, brands, etc, under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, so as to open up business opportunities in the Mainland market; and
(d) proactively discussing with the Mainland Government to expeditiously strengthen the protection of Hong Kong businessmen¡¦s intellectual property rights in brands, trademarks, designs and patented technologies, and introducing facilitation measures, such as making reference to overseas practices to study the feasibility of ¡¥one-registration, two-uses¡¦ for trademarks, establishing a mutual recognition regime for trademark registration in both the Mainland and Hong Kong, and offering special protection for well-known trademarks and brands.¡¨
Hon Vincent FANG will move an amendment to Dr Hon LAM Tai-fai¡¦s motion.
Members will also debate a motion for the adjournment of the Council. The motion, to be moved by Hon Miriam LAU, says: ¡§That this Council do now adjourn for the purpose of debating the following two issues:
(a) review of the tree management policy and the report on the review raised by Hon Tanya CHAN; and
(b) persistent rent increases by The Link Management Limited and the substantial layoffs upon the change of service contracts for its carparks raised by Hon WONG Kwok-kin.¡¨
On Government motions, the Financial Secretary will move a resolution under the Public Finance Ordinance to resolve that a ¡§Bond Fund¡¨to be established and to be administered by the Financial Secretary, who may direct or authorize other public officers to administer the Fund and delegate the power of administration to other public officers.
Hon Albert HO, Hon James TO and Hon KAM Nai-wai will move separate amendments to the Financial Secretary¡¦s resolution.
The Financial Secretary will also move a resolution under the Loans Ordinance to resolve that the Government be authorized to borrow from any person from time to time for the purposes of the Bond Fund established by a resolution made and passed under section 29 of the Public Finance Ordinance (Cap. 2) such sums not exceeding in total $100 billion or equivalent, being the maximum amount of all borrowings made under this paragraph that may be outstanding by way of principal at any time.
Meanwhile, the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs will move a resolution under the Race Discrimination Ordinance.
The Secretary for Food and Health will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to resolve that the Food Business (Amendment) Regulation 2009, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on 13 May 2009, be amended, in section 1, by repealing ¡§1 August 2009¡¨ and substituting ¡§1 August 2010¡¨.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to resolve that with effect from 17 July 2009, the functions exercisable by the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing by virtue of the Entertainment Special Effects Ordinance (Cap. 560) be transferred to the Head of Create Hong Kong and, for the purpose of giving full effect to this transfer, that Ordinance be amended in section 3 by repealing ¡§Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing¡¨ and substituting ¡§Head of Create Hong Kong¡¨.
On Bills, the Arbitration Bill, the Public Officers Pay Adjustment Bill, the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2009, the Minimum Wage Bill, and the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2009 will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Debates on the Bills will be adjourned.
Members will resume Second Reading Debate on the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Amendment) Bill 2009. 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, Hon LI Fung-ying, Chairman of the Panel on Manpower; Dr Hon Margaret NG, Chairman of the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services; Hon IP Kwok-him, Chairman of the Panel on Home Affairs; Hon TAM Yiu-chung, Chairman of the Panel on Constitutional Affairs; Hon CHAN Kam-lam, Chairman of the Panel on Financial Affairs; Hon LAU Wong-fat, Chairman of the Panel on Development; Hon Andrew LEUNG, Chairman of the Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting; Hon Audrey EU, Chairman of the Panel on Environmental Affairs; will present the 2008-2009 Reports of the related Panels and address the Council respectively.
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, July 6, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:11
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