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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 6) 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 Charles Peter Mok, states: "That the Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting 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 to order the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development to attend before the Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting on or before November 8, 2013 to produce all relevant papers, books, records or documents involved in the processes of vetting and approval of domestic free television programme service licence applications by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (including but not limited to all relevant documents and reports submitted by the former Broadcasting Authority to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government)."
Mr Dennis Kwok will move an amendment to Mr Charles Peter Mok's motion.
Mr James To will move a motion on the domestic free television programme service licences. The motion states: "That the Administration has recently issued licences to two applicants of domestic free television programme service licences, but has refused to issue a licence to Hong Kong Television Network Limited (HKTVN); this Council expresses regret that the Administration vetted and approved the licence applications in a black box, and its licensing decision departed from public opinion and antagonised the people; besides, the public are very dissatisfied with the Chief Executive's refusal to openly give an account of the justifications for not issuing a licence to HKTVN on the grounds of the confidentiality principle of the Executive Council; in this connection, this Council urges the Chief Executive, on the premise of safeguarding the overall interest of society, to explain to the public the details of vetting and approval of the licence applications concerned (including the vetting and approval criteria), and the Chief Executive in Council should respond to public opinion and consider issuing a domestic free television programme service licence to HKTVN."
Ms Claudia Mo and Mr Ma Fung-kwok will move separate amendments to Mr James To's motion.
Mr Albert Chan will also move a motion on imposing economic sanctions on the Philippines and restoring Hong Kong people's dignity. The motion states: "That, on August 23, 2010, a Hong Kong tour group was tragically taken hostage in Manila in the Philippines; due to the Philippine authorities' serious mishandling of the rescue work, the Philippine hostage incident eventually resulted in a tragedy with eight Hong Kong people killed and seven injured; more than three years have lapsed since the Philippine hostage incident, yet the Philippine Government has never faced up to the relevant demands of the victims' families at all, even adopting an extremely poor attitude in handling the incident; however, after a Taiwan fisherman was shot dead by the Philippine Coast Guard in May this year, the Philippine Government tendered a formal apology for the incident within three months following Taiwan's announcement of sanctions against the Philippines; given that the Philippine hostage incident has yet to be resolved properly, and the progress is hardly acceptable and is grossly unjust to the victims' families, this Council urges the Government to impose strong and forceful economic sanction measures, so as to press the Philippine Government to make a prompt and formal response to the four demands of the victims' families, i.e. to apologise to the victims' families, to offer compensation to the victims' families, to penalise the relevant officials for dereliction of duty in the Philippine hostage incident, and to implement measures to protect tourists' personal safety."
Ms Alice Mak, Mr Ip Kwok-him, Mr Sin Chung-kai, Mrs Regina Ip and Mr Chan Chi-chuen will move separate amendments to Mr Albert Chan's motion.
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. 2/13-14 of the House Committee laid on the table of the Council on November 6, 2013 in relation to the Solicitors (General) Costs (Amendment) Rules 2013".
Meanwhile, the Secretary for Justice will move a proposed resolution under section 34(2) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to amend the Arbitration (Appointment of Arbitrators and Mediators and Decision on Number of Arbitrators) Rules, laid on the table of the LegCo on July 3, 2013.
The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs will move a proposed resolution under the District Councils Ordinance to seek the Council's approval to the District Councils Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 3) Order 2013, made by the Chief Executive in Council on June 25, 2013.
On Bill, Members will resume Second Reading debate on the Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) (Amendment) Bill 2013. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will then goes through the Committee Stage and be read the Third time.
Members will also ask the Government 22 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, November 4, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:25
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