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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (January 20) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will resume the Second Reading Debate on the Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill 2009. 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.
In addition, Second Reading Debate on the Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2009 will resume. 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.
On Government motion, the Secretary for Food and Health will move a resolution under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance to seek the Council's approval to the Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulation 2009 and the Poisons List (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulation 2009, which were made by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board on December 28, 2009.
On Members' motions, Members will debate a motion on suspending the construction of the Government Headquarters at Tamar. The motion, to be moved by Hon Paul Tse, states: "That, in view of the series of 'Conserving Central' projects to transform the Central District put forward by the Chief Executive in his Policy Address made in October last year, this Council urges the SAR Government to suspend the project of the Government Headquarters at Tamar, and set up offices of government departments in various remote districts (such as Tin Shui Wai and districts near border crossings) and in new development areas (such as the West Kowloon District and the old airport area), according to their respective local characteristics and nature of development; in addition, through providing incentives such as tax and land premium concessions, to encourage international and large local commercial organisations to move their offices away from the city centre and/or to establish divisions/branches in remote areas, in order to:
(a) increase the traffic to and from the Central District, other busy residential/commercial areas and remote districts and optimise the use of limited road space and the mass transit system; reduce the traffic and traffic congestion in Central and the neighbouring areas (especially at the harbour crossings) during rush hours, as well as environmental pollution caused by traffic congestion and 'empty vehicles in reverse direction' due to an imbalance of passenger flow;
(b) increase job opportunities in various remote districts;
(c) lower the high travelling expenses and reduce the time involved in commuting between workplace and home for residents living in remote districts to facilitate the narrowing of the gap between the rich and the poor;
(d) promote the economic development of remote districts to assist the fresh school leavers of those districts in finding jobs and opportunities for development; and to provide them with feasible ways to actively engage themselves in society and materialise their vision of upward mobility, thereby easing their negative sentiments in indulgence in excessive enjoyment and drug abuse to escape from reality;
(e) alleviate the expensive land premium in Central, so as to enhance the appeal and competitiveness of Hong Kong as an international financial centre; to boost the investment value of properties in various other districts; and to spread out developments centrally located in busy areas to remoter districts;
(f) consider leasing, selling or better optimising the use of the priceless land lot in Tamar, so as to bring promising wealth for Hong Kong people, and the revenue so generated can be used for offering tax concessions to people, leaving wealth with the people or facilitating the reduction of fiscal deficit;
(g) further tie in with and make the most of the overall development direction and trend of China, such as the 'Qianhai' development project; and
(h) foster better conditions in Hong Kong for tourism development through measures such as conserving the urban area, providing more open space, improving transportation and protecting the environment."
Ir Dr Hon Raymond Ho will move an amendment to Hon Paul Tse's motion.
Members will debate another motion on actively participating in the 'National Twelfth Five-Year Plan'. The motion, to be moved by Hon Wong Ting-kwong, says: "That, as the research and preparation of the Outline of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China has commenced, which will map out the economic and social development for the years from 2011 to 2015, this Council urges the SAR Government to expeditiously make plans and examine the positioning and role of Hong Kong in the country's economic development in a new setting of economic development, and actively participate in the early preparation of the 'National Twelfth Five-Year Plan', with a view to laying a good foundation for the future economic development of Hong Kong, so as to facilitate Hong Kong's economic restructuring and resolve the problem of structural unemployment, which has been plaguing Hong Kong for a long time, as well as the deep-rooted problems existing in economic development."
Hon Miriam Lau will move an amendment to Hon Wong Ting-kwong's motion.
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, January 18, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:08
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