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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 (June 26) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will consider a motion under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance.
The motion, to be moved by Mr Leung Kwok-hung, states: "That this Council appoints a select committee to inquire into the surrender by the Hong Kong Mercantile Exchange Limited of its authorisation to provide automated trading services and related issues; and that in the performance of its duties the committee be authorised under section 9(2) of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance (Cap. 382) to exercise the powers conferred by section 9(1) of that Ordinance."
Mr Christopher Chung will move a motion on the concern about the expenditure of the West Kowloon Cultural District project. The motion states: "That, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) was established in 2008 and given a one-off upfront endowment of $21.6 billion by the Government to take forward the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) project; however, it has been confirmed that the construction cost of the Xiqu Centre, one of the Phase 1 cultural and arts facilities to be completed in 2016, increases drastically from the estimated $1.3 billion to $2.7 billion, making people worry about the WKCD project turning into a 'fiscal black hole'; given the possible serious overspending of various works under the WKCD project, this Council urges the Government to examine afresh the construction expenditure of the project, expeditiously give the public an account of the relevant particulars, formulate with WKCDA a more effective cost control proposal, increase the transparency of the expenditure of the WKCD project, and enhance its reporting to this Council on the progress and financial position of the WKCD project, so as to avoid the WKCD project not being monitored and becoming a 'white elephant project'."
Mr Tony Tse, Ms Chan Yuen-han, Dr Priscilla Leung, Ms Cyd Ho, Mr Charles Peter Mok, Mr Ma Fung-kwok, Mr Alan Leong, Mr Albert Chan, Ms Claudia Mo and Ms Emily Lau will move separate amendments to Mr Chung's motion.
Dr Kenneth Chan will also move a motion on enhancing the quality and quantity of local tertiary education. The motion states: "That this Council urges the Administration to take appropriate measures to increase local youngsters' opportunities to receive subsidised tertiary education, enhance the quality of local tertiary education, and safeguard academic freedom; the specific measures should include:
(1) to increase the number of places under subsidised undergraduate programmes for the enrolment of local students;
(2) to immediately conduct a comprehensive review of the various existing financial assistance and loan schemes for tertiary students, so as to provide interest-free loans for qualified tertiary students;
(3) to set up an independent body to handle complaints from the teaching staff of tertiary institutions and protect the rights of complainants;
(4) to review the existing research grant system and allocate additional resources to promote diversified academic research;
(5) to set up an independent statutory body to monitor the operation and quality of self-financing tertiary institutions;
(6) to allocate additional land to support the development of the various tertiary institutions; and
(7) to increase the exchange and internship opportunities for tertiary students in different countries and places."
Mr Gary Fan, Ms Starry Lee, Mr Kwok Wai-keung, Mr Michael Tien, Dr Helena Wong, Mr Chan Chi-chuen and Dr Fernando Cheung will move separate amendments to Dr Chan's motion.
Meanwhile, Mr Andrew Leung will move a motion under Rule 49E(2) of the Rules of Procedure. The motion states: "That this Council takes note of Report No. 19/12-13 of the House Committee laid on the Table of the Council on June 26, 2013 in relation to the Business Registration Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Order 2013."
The Chief Secretary for Administration will move a proposed resolution under Article 73(7) of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peopleˇ¦s Republic of China and section 7A of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance (Cap. 484) to seek the Council's approval to endorse the appointment of the Honourable Mr Justice Joseph Paul Fok as a permanent judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal; the appointment of the Honourable Mr Justice Patrick Chan Siu-oi as a non-permanent Hong Kong judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal; the appointment of the Honourable James Spigelman as a judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal from another common law jurisdiction; and the appointment of the Honourable William Gummow as a judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal from another common law jurisdiction.
The Secretary for Home Affairs will move a proposed resolution under the Legal Aid Ordinance to seek the Council's approval to amend Section 5 and Section 5A of the Legal Aid Ordinance (Cap. 91).
On Bills, Members will resume Second Reading debate on the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013. If this Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will go to the Committee Stage and be read the third time.
The Waste Disposal (Amendment) Bill 2013 will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Second Reading debate on the bill will be adjourned.
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, June 24, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:52
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