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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (November 16) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Complex. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on enacting an archives law.
The motion, to be moved by Dr Margaret Ng, states: "That, in order to properly manage and preserve valuable public records, and provide channels for the public to access such records, this Council urges the Government to immediately launch public consultation on the formulation of an archives law and expeditiously proceed with its enactment."
Mr Paul Tse and Ms Cyd Ho will move separate amendments to Dr Margaret Ng's motion.
Dr Priscilla Leung will move a motion on comprehensively improving the water quality of the Victoria Harbour. The motion, states: "That, given that the 'cross harbour swimming race' was resumed on October 16 this year after a suspension of 33 years; the West Kowloon Cultural District project has entered Stage 3 of the consultation process and will soon be finalised and commenced; the first berth of Kai Tak Cruise Terminal will be commissioned in 2013; the Government is also developing continuous waterfront promenades along waterfront areas on both sides of the Victoria Harbour, and such works and projects are all closely related to the Victoria Harbour; and, as the water quality of the Victoria Harbour has all along been criticised by environmentalists, academics and the public, this Council urges the Government to formulate long-term proposals for improving the water quality of the Victoria Harbour, so as to truly realise the objective of 'returning the harbour to the people'; the relevant improvement proposals should include the following measures:
(a) to immediately investigate and stop the pollution sources of the Victoria Harbour;
(b) to identify misconnection of sewers in the urban areas;
(c) to increase the existing penalties to punish individuals or enterprises who pollute the harbour;
(d) to rectify the current situation of fragmentation of responsibilities among government departments for managing the water quality of the Victoria Harbour, and to study establishing a higher-level department to co-ordinate and follow up the relevant matters;
(e) to draw reference from international experience, so as to formulate water quality objectives specifically for the Victoria Harbour;
(f) to report to the public on the water quality of the various parts of the Victoria Harbour at half-yearly intervals;
(g) to study removing polluting facilities in the vicinity of the Victoria Harbour, such as typhoon shelters, cargo working areas and polluting industrial plants, etc.; and
(h) to make the 'cross harbour swimming race' an annual gala in Hong Kong and organise it regularly every year at different locations in the Victoria Harbour, so as to press the relevant departments to seriously improve the water quality of the Victoria Harbour."
Mr Kam Nai-wai, Dr Pan Pey-chyou and Ms Audrey Eu will move separate amendments to Dr Priscilla Leung's motion.
Mr James To will move a proposed resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Companies Ordinance (Exemption of Companies and Prospectuses from Compliance with Provisions) (Amendment) Notice 2011, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on October 26, 2011, to the meeting of December 14, 2011.
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 LegCo website (www.legco.gov.hk). Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found in the LegCo website.
Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Chamber of the Legislative Council Complex. They may reserve seats by calling 3919 3399 during office hours. Seats will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Members of the public can also watch or listen to the meeting via the web broadcast system on the Legislative Council homepage.
Ends/Monday, November 14, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:26
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