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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting this Wednesday (March 20) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury will move a proposed resolution under the Public Finance Ordinance to seek the Council's approval to give for a sum not exceeding $75,545,010,000 to be charged on the general revenue for expenditure on the services of the Government in respect of the financial year commencing on April 1, 2013.
During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on promoting Hong Kong's economic restructuring. The motion, to be moved by Mr Martin Liao states: "That, in the light of the general direction of the transformation of the Mainland's economic development mode, and recent changes in the international economic situation, this Council urges the Government to seize the opportunity by utilizing financial resources and policy measures appropriately to promote Hong Kong's economic restructuring."
Mr Kenneth Leung, Mr Tang Ka-piu, Mrs Regina Ip, Mr Sin Chung-kai, Mr Ip Kin-yuen, Mr Charles Peter Mok and Mr Ng Leung-sing will move separate amendments to Mr Martin Liao's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on implementing the Kai Tak Planning to dovetail with Kowloon East development. The motion, to be moved by Mr Wong Kwok-kin, states: "That, the Kai Tak New Development Area is currently the largest urban waterfront development project in Hong Kong with a total planning area of more than 320 hectares; as Kai Tak in the future will become a new core district in Kowloon and drive the overall development of Kowloon East, and the various works projects in the area will be completed one after another starting from this year, this Council urges the Government to expeditiously implement the various planning for the new development area and the ancillary work in nearby communities, including:
(1) to expeditiously give the public a full account of any plan to revise and adjust the planning for Kai Tak (including proposals relating to increasing the plot ratios and resident population, and whether to build a helipad on the runway, etc.);
(2) to closely keep in view the problem of big rent hikes in Kowloon East driven by the Kai Tak development, so as to ensure that small business traders and even workers in the creative and cultural sector in the district can continue their operation to provide residents with inexpensive and quality daily consumer goods amidst the transformation of Kowloon East;
(3) to expeditiously discuss with the relevant District Councils plans for support arrangements after the commissioning of the first berth of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal this year (including traffic and transport arrangements, and on-shore power supply facilities, etc.), so as to avoid impacting and pressuring the nearby communities and the environment after the commissioning of the terminal;
(4) to ensure that the recreational and sports facilities in the Multi-purpose Sports Complex at Kai Tak are open for public use at all times in the future, so as to resolve the long-standing shortage of public sports facilities in Kowloon;
(5) to review the road transport network of Kowloon East, assess whether the traffic capacity of the existing roads in the various communities is adequate to meet the future development and population needs of Kai Tak and the various areas in Kowloon East, and expeditiously conduct improvement works in this regard;
(6) to expeditiously implement the construction of a monorail system to connect Kai Tak with the various areas in Kowloon East, and at the same time, study the extension of the system to the mid-levels areas of Kowloon East, so as to better meet the transport needs of residents in these communities;
(7) to expeditiously construct a general hospital in Kai Tak and expedite the expansion of the United Christian Hospital, so as to meet the medical needs arising from the future population growth and development of Kowloon East;
(8) to perfect the pedestrian linking systems and barrier-free facilities in the old areas of Kowloon East and Kai Tak new area, deepen the connection between Kai Tak and adjacent areas, and develop semi-sunken open underground street networks to merge pedestrian flows and add special features to the areas;
(9) to study the construction of cycle tracks along the waterfront and in the communities of Kowloon East to connect with the cycle track in the Kai Tak New Development Area, so as to develop an urban cycle track network;
(10) to integrate the cultural monuments and existing waterways in Kai Tak and the nearby communities, such as linking Nga Tsin Wai Village, Longjin Bridge and Kai Tak River to form an area with historical and ecological values, and develop a special heritage trail embracing environmental protection, historical monuments, local culture and tourism;
(11) to increase the space for greening and public art in Kai Tak and the various areas in Kowloon East, and introduce bazaars with local characteristics (e.g. temple fairs) to attract tourists and create employment opportunities;
(12) to make use of the site of the former Tai Hom Village and San Po Kong Industrial Area, etc. to develop cultural and creative industries, so as to develop Kai Tak and the relevant areas into a tourist spot related to Hong Kong movies; and
(13) to develop featured waterfront areas in Kai Tak and Kowloon East (including making good use of the vacant land under the flyovers near the Kwun Tong waterfront), so as to develop them into creative spaces, markets and community facilities with local cultural characteristics and styles."
Mr Frederick Fung, Mr Chan Kam-lam, Mr Wu Chi-wai, Mr Alan Leong and Dr Leung Ka-lau will move separate amendments to Mr Wong Kwok-kin's motion.
In addition, Mr Wong Ting-kwong will move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period of amending the Import and Export (General) (Amendment) Regulation 2013 laid on the table of the LegCo on February 27, 2013, to the meeting of April 17, 2013.
Mr Andrew Leung will also move a motion under Rule 49E(2) of the LegCo Rules of Procedure. The motion states: "That this Council takes note of Report No. 12/12-13 of the House Committee laid on the Table of the Council on March 20, 2013 in relation to the subsidiary legislation and instrument(s) as listed below: Personal Data (Privacy) (Amendment) Ordinance 2012 (Commencement) Notice."
Meanwhile, Mr Tam Yiu-chung will move a proposed resolution under Article 75 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China to amend the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
On Bills, the Pilotage (Amendment) Bill 2013 and the Air Pollution Control (Amendment) Bill 2013 will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Debate on the Bills will be adjourned.
The Secretary for Transport and Housing will move a proposed resolution under the Public Bus Services Ordinance to resolve that the franchise granted on April 24, 2012 under section 5 of the Public Bus Services Ordinance (Cap. 230) to New World First Bus Services Limited and published in the Gazette as G.N. 3180 of 2012 is not subject to sections 27, 28, 29 and 31 of that Ordinance for the entire period of the franchise.
The Secretary for Transport and Housing will move another proposed resolution under the Public Bus Services Ordinance to resolve that the franchise granted on April 24, 2012 under section 5 of the Public Bus Services Ordinance (Cap. 230) to Long Win Bus Company Limited and published in the Gazette as G.N. 3181 of 2012 is not subject to sections 27, 28, 29 and 31 of that Ordinance for the entire period of the franchise.
The Secretary for Transport and Housing will also move a proposed resolution under the Public Bus Services Ordinance to resolve that the franchise granted on April 24, 2012 under section 5 of the Public Bus Services Ordinance (Cap. 230) to Citybus Limited and published in the Gazette as G.N. 3182 of 2012 is not subject to sections 27, 28, 29 and 31 of that Ordinance for the entire period of the franchise.
During the meeting, Members will 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 LegCo 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 the meeting via the web broadcast system on the LegCo website.
Ends/Monday, March 18, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:09
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