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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 17) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will resume the Second Reading debate on the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2014. 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.
Members will also resume the Second Reading debates on the Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 and the Construction Workers Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014. If the Bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Reading, they will then go through the Committee stage and be read the third time.
Moreover, the Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill 2014 will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Second Reading debate on the bill will be adjourned.
On Members' motions, Mr Jeffrey Lam will move a motion on increasing upward mobility opportunities for young people. The motion states: "That this Council urges the Government to care about the aspirations of young people, formulate feasible policies and measures, and enhance the relevant training and support, so as to increase upward mobility opportunities for young people."
Mr Kwok Wai-keung, Dr Helena Wong, Dr Kenneth Chan, Mr Ip Kin-yuen, Mr Lee Cheuk-yan and Mr Michael Tien will move separate amendments to Mr Jeffrey Lam's motion.
Mr Frankie Yick will also move a motion on expeditiously launching the Fourth Comprehensive Transport Study. The motion states: "That, it has now been over 16 years since the Government conducted the Third Comprehensive Transport Study and during this period, the rapid socio-economic development, the continuous growth in Hong Kong's population and inbound visitors, the development and expansion of new towns, and the increasingly frequent cross-boundary activities, etc. have all led to changes in and continuous increase in the public demand for transport services, but on the premise of using railways as the backbone of the passenger transport system, other public transport services are considered to have retrogressed and are marginalised, resulting not only in an imbalance between the supply of and demand for such services but also the pressure to increase fares, and hence causing continuous increase in the transport expenses of the public; the Government used Hong Kong as the only base for the past three comprehensive transport studies, with no consideration given to the cross-boundary transportation needs in terms of passenger flow or vehicular flow brought about by the further integration between Hong Kong and China, and the development of transport infrastructure facilities (such as parking facilities) is also unable to cope with the large growth in vehicle numbers; as for the promotion of the environmentally-friendly transport policy (including the pedestrian linkage systems and the policy on the use of bicycles, etc.) and the Intelligent Transport Systems, progress has been slow; in this connection, this Council urges the Government to expeditiously launch the Fourth Comprehensive Transport Study to comprehensively review the overall transport policy and the situation at present, and apart from formulating measures to enable various modes of public transport to develop in a sustainable and healthy manner in tandem with the continuous expansion of railways, to also formulate a forward-looking and long-term transport development blueprint, having regard to future town planning, development of industries and land use, etc., with a view to continuously perfecting the transport system as a whole, promoting Hong Kong's economic development and providing the public with better and more efficient transport services."
Mr Tang Ka-piu, Dr Kwok Ka-ki, Mr Tony Tse, Dr Lo Wai-kwok, Mr Wu Chi-wai, Mr Chan Kam-lam, Mr Gary Fan and Mr Michael Tien will move separate amendments to Mr Frankie Yick'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. Members of the public can also watch or listen the meeting via the web broadcast system on the LegCo Website.
Ends/Monday, December 15, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:26
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