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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 (December 4) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will examine a proposed resolution moved by Dr Lau Wong-fat under section 34(2) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to amend the Country Parks (Designation) (Consolidation) (Amendment) Order 2013, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on October 16, 2013.
Meanwhile, Ms Claudia Mo will move a motion under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance. The motion states: "That this Council appoints a select committee to inquire into whether the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has violated the fundamental principle of free market with fair competition of the free television broadcasting policy; 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 to order Mr Ricky Wong Wai-kay, Chairman of the Hong Kong Television Network Limited, or his authorised representative and Mr Ambrose Ho, Chairman of the Communications Authority, or his authorised representative to attend before the committee to give evidence and to produce in their possession all relevant papers, books, records or documents involved in the processes of vetting and approval of domestic free television programme service licence applications (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 Frederick Fung will move a motion on establishing a low-income subsidy system. The motion states: "That this Council urges the Government, following the setting of a poverty line, to expeditiously establish a low-income subsidy system to support poor families."
Dr Kwok Ka-ki, Mr Tang Ka-piu, Mr Leung Yiu-chung, Mr Michael Tien, Mr Cheung Kwok-che and Mr Gary Fan will move separate amendments to Mr Frederick Fung's motion.
Mr Wu Chi-wai will also move a motion on the policy on 'enclaves'. The motion states: "That, in dealing with the 'enclaves' of Hoi Ha, Pak Lap and So Lo Pun, the Government adopted the practice of covering the sites concerned by statutory plans rather than incorporating them into country parks, which has aroused public queries; the authorities need to consider taking prompt actions to make the 'enclaves' covered by protective measures, so as to avoid possible incompatible developments; in this connection, this Council urges the Government to:
(1) based on the factors of the conservation value, landscape and aesthetic value, geographical locations and existing scale of human settlements of the sites, and the relevant development pressure, assess afresh the incorporation of the three 'enclaves' of Hoi Ha, Pak Lap and So Lo Pun into country parks;
(2) immediately review the criteria of adopting statutory plans to deal with 'enclaves', including the practice of proposing to designate sites that are inconsistent with the existing scale of human settlements for 'village-type development', so as to reduce the damage to the ecological environment of nearby country parks and the emergence of incompatible developments;
(3) expeditiously make public a timetable and arrangements for dealing with 'enclaves'; and
(4) on the premise of not affecting private ownership and considering the impact of developing 'enclaves' on country parks, assess afresh the adoption of the approach to incorporate 'enclaves' into country parks to replace the original approach to cover the sites by statutory plans."
Dr Kenneth Chan, Ir Dr Lo Wai-kwok and Mr Chan Chi-chuen will move separate amendments to Mr Wu Chi-wai's motion.
During the meeting, 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, December 2, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:35
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