****************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (February 19) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will resume Second Reading debate on the Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill 2012. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will then go through the Committee Stage and be read the Third time.
For Members' motions, Mr Ma Fung-kwok will move a motion on evaluating the effectiveness of the policy on "promoting sports in the community, supporting elite sports and developing Hong Kong into a prime destination for hosting major international sports events" and formulating a long-term sports policy. The motion states: "That, as the Government has not conducted any reviews of the sports policy since the publication of the Report of the Sports Policy Review Team in 2002, this Council urges the Government to expeditiously review and evaluate the effectiveness of the policy on 'promoting sports in the community, supporting elite sports and developing Hong Kong into a prime destination for hosting major international sports events', and deepen and step up the promotion of local sports affairs to dovetail with social needs, thereby achieving the important functions of sports to train the body and the mind, give full play to individual potential and strengthen cohesion in society, etc.; the relevant proposals include:
Sports policy and structure -
(1) to formulate a long-term sports policy, increase resources and establish a sports commissioner to oversee and co-ordinate various government departments to promote sports development;
(2) to review the overall management structure and system, and perfect activity organisation and the mechanism for resource deployment and co-ordination among the Government, sports organisations and institutions, so as to enhance operational efficiency and transparency, and strengthen the nurturing of sports administrative and management personnel;
(3) to encourage academic institutions and community organisations to conduct sports-related studies, so as to provide data and theoretical bases and increase efficiency of the sports policy;
(4) to develop sports-related industries, including training, supply of sports goods and equipment, venue operation and management, media promotion, insurance and sports medicine, etc., for providing athletes and young people with diversified career pathways, and encourage the business sector to sponsor sports activities;
Sports venues and facilities -
(5) to increase easily accessible sports venues, enhance the standard and management of existing facilities, and effectively deploy venue resources, so as to meet the needs of the industry, schools and the public;
(6) to enhance transparency and sustainability in the planning for the Multi-purpose Sports Complex at Kai Tak, including establishing a clear consultation mechanism, providing venue support for more sports items, adopting a 'sports come first' operational mode to support diversified and sustained development of sports, and designing venue in a flexible manner, so as to support elite sports and sports for all and meet the needs of major competitions, the industry and the public;
(7) to review the existing policies on land and industrial buildings, so as to release space for more private organisations to develop sports venues;
Public participation in sports -
(8) to strengthen the support in sports for schools, including establishing dedicated funding for sports, strengthening training for sports teachers and cultivating students' interests in sports, so as to manifest the spirit of 'one sports/arts in life', and to encourage schools to open their sports venues to sports organisations outside school hours;
(9) to deepen the support for specific population groups (such as the elderly, poor people, persons with disabilities and ethnic minorities, etc.), so that they have more opportunities to participate in sports;
(10) to further develop inter-district sports competitions, so as to enhance the sports atmosphere in districts and strengthen cohesion in the community;
(11) to strive to host more mega sports events and cross-boundary games, so as to raise people's interest of participation and drive the development of sports tourism;
(12) to strengthen the publicity of various sports to enhance people's understanding of the relevant sports, thereby enhancing their interest and ability in sports appreciation;
Support for athletes -
(13) to further expand the coverage of elite sports, introduce development plans for non-elite sports, strengthen sports support for persons with disabilities, and enhance the overall standard of sports training and level of athletic skills in Hong Kong; and
(14) to raise the professional and social status of athletes, and strengthen the support for current and retired athletes in respect of present education, further studies, employment and post-retirement prospects, so as to encourage more young people with potentials to join the ranks of full-time athletes."
Dr Kenneth Chan, Dr Helena Wong and Dr Fernando Cheung will move separate amendments to Mr Ma Fung-kwok's motion.
Mr Chung Kwok-pan will move a motion on encouraging the return of the industrial sector for development to make Hong Kong's industries more diversified. The motion states: "That in recent years, the industrial sector has intended to return to Hong Kong for development, and quite a number of enterprises wish to relocate their core departments and high value-added industries back to Hong Kong, which can in fact help rebuild the brand effect of 'Made in Hong Kong', thereby increasing the export of quality Hong Kong products to the Mainland and overseas places; yet, at present, the development of Hong Kong's industries is homogeneous and stagnant, and not only does the Government not introduce any policy on supporting the development of new industries, it even plans to convert quite a number of industrial sites to residential uses, which dampen the desire of the industrial sector to return for development, and make it difficult to enhance the brand effect of 'Made in Hong Kong'; in this connection, this Council urges the Government to introduce concrete measures and support polices to encourage the return of the industrial sector for development, so as to make Hong Kong's industries more diversified".
Mr Andrew Leung, Mr Sin Chung-kai, Mr Kenneth Leung and Ms Chan Yuen-han will move separate amendments to Mr Chung Kwok-pan's motion.
Ms Cyd Ho will move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to seek the Council's approval to extend the period for amending the Air Pollution Control (Marine Light Diesel) Regulation, laid on the table of LegCo on January 22, 2014, to the meeting of March 19, 2014.
Mr Chan Kam-lam will move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to seek the Council's approval to extend the period for amending the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulation 2014, laid on the table of LegCo on January 22, 2014, to the meeting of March 19, 2014.
Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary for Administration will present the Government Minute in response to the Report of the Public Accounts Committee No. 60A of November 2013 and address the Council.
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 on 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 LegCo Webcast on the LegCo Website.
Ends/Monday, February 17, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:58
NNNN
