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LegCo to debate a motion on safeguarding editorial independence and autonomy
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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 (January 22) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on safeguarding editorial independence and autonomy.

     The motion, to be moved by Mr Alan Leong, states: "That the recent post transfer of a veteran and influential journalist by the media organisation to which he belongs has once again aroused the concern of society about the impact on freedom of the press and editorial autonomy; a recent opinion poll also indicates that more than half of the respondents consider that the phenomenon of self-censorship exists among Hong Kong news media; and a survey on the credibility of news media conducted by an academic institution even reflects that the credibility of Hong Kong media has hit a record low since the reunification; in this connection, this Council expresses concern and calls on journalists to remain steadfast in their duties, safeguard the principle of editorial independence and autonomy, and continue to give play to the functions of the Fourth Estate."

     Ms Claudia Mo, Mr Ip Kwok-him, Mr James To and Ms Cyd Ho will move separate amendments to Mr Alan Leong's motion.

     Mr Wong Kwok-hing will move another motion on regulating mobile radio base stations to protect public health. The motion states: "That in recent years, the number of mobile radio base stations (mobile base stations) installed by various telecommunications companies on the rooftops and external walls of buildings has substantially increased, and so far more than 32 000 mobile base stations have been installed in Hong Kong; the mobile base stations on quite a number of the rooftops of buildings are very dense, and information shows that 10 or so mobile base stations are installed on the rooftop of a building, with their locations very close to residential settlements, the most serious example being a mobile base station located less than 3 metres from residents' beds, causing residents to be exposed directly to the effects of radiofrequency radiation emitted by the mobile base station, with cases such as infants having abnormal restlessness and wailing, and adults having symptoms of tinnitus, headaches, insomnia and marked deterioration of concentration, etc.; besides, mobile base stations installed on the rooftops of buildings also hinder residents from escape when there is fire and impair building structure; and the practice of the Communications Authority (CA) not consulting affected residents prior to granting approval to telecommunications companies to install mobile base stations has deprived residents of the right to information and the right to monitoring; in this connection, this Council urges the Government to:

(1) request CA to expeditiously review the vetting and approval procedure for installing mobile base stations to require that CA must consult affected residents beforehand when vetting and approving the relevant new applications or renewal applications, and formulate an implementation timetable for this new procedure;

(2) expeditiously conduct a study on enacting legislation to regulate the installation of mobile base stations, including regulating the distance between mobile base station and residential settlement, the maximum number of mobile base stations installed in each building and the distance between one mobile base station and another, as well as devising a mechanism for handling complaints about mobile base stations, etc., and formulate a legislative timetable;

(3) having regard to the dense buildings and high population density in Hong Kong, conduct a study on setting the non-ionizing radiation limits more stringent than those required by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, so as to protect public health; and

(4) request CA, the Department of Health and the Buildings Department to compile records and statistics on cases of mobile base stations affecting residents, and provide solutions to the residents who suffer nuisance."
  
     Mr Charles Peter Mok will move an amendment to Mr Wong Kwok-hing's motion.

     Meanwhile, Dr Kwok Ka-ki will move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period of amending the Antiquities and Monuments (Declaration of Historical Buildings) (No. 2) Notice 2013, laid on the table of the LegCo on January 8, 2014, to the meeting of February 26, 2014.

     In addition, the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs will move a proposed resolution under the District Councils Ordinance to seek the Council's approval to endorse the District Councils Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules 1 and 3) Order 2013, made by the Chief Executive in Council on October 22, 2013.

     The Secretary for the Environment will also move a proposed resolution under section 34(2) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to seek the Council's approval to amend the Waste Disposal (Designated Waste Disposal Facility) (Amendment) Regulation 2013 laid on the table of the Council on December 4, 2013.

     On Bills, the Loans (Amendment) Bill 2014 will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Debate on the Bill will be adjourned. Meanwhile, Members will resume Second Reading debate on the Air Pollution Control (Amendment) (No. 2) 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.

     During the meeting, Members will also ask the Administration 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, January 20, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:51

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