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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 28) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Ms Claudia Mo will move a motion for the adjournment of the Council under Rule 16(4) of the Rules of Procedure. The motion states: "That this Council do now adjourn for the purpose of debating the following issue: the relationship between the incident of petrol bomb attack on a media organisation and freedom of the press in Hong Kong."
Mr Abraham Shek will move a motion on concern about the problem of slow progress in vetting and approving funding applications for infrastructure projects. The motion states: "That, since the start of the 2013-2014 legislative session, the Legislative Council has been slow in approving funding applications for infrastructure projects; if the situation cannot be reversed in the near future, infrastructure works will definitely be delayed, thereby pushing up works costs and affecting the livelihood of practitioners of the construction industry and relevant industries as well as the industries' sustainability, and eventually hindering Hong Kong's long-term economic development; in this connection, this Council urges the Administration to face up to the problems concerned, and proactively join hands with this Council to seek solutions, so as to expedite the approval of outstanding and new funding applications for infrastructure projects."
Mr Ng Leung-sing and Mr Alan Leong will move separate amendments to Mr Abraham Shek's motion.
Mr Steven Ho will also move a motion on promoting the sustainable development of the agriculture and fisheries industry. The motion states: "That the agriculture and fisheries industry has all along been providing a stable food supply to Hong Kong and playing a significant role in the process of economic development; in recent years, the agriculture and fisheries industry has been developing in the high value-added direction and adopting modern modes to produce high quality and safe food; with the emergence of eco-tourism and leisure agriculture and fisheries industry, the agriculture and fisheries industry can be developed into a comprehensive industry embracing production, leisure, tourism and education, thereby boosting the development of service industries on retail, transport, catering and accommodation, etc. and hence further diversifying the Hong Kong economy; yet, constrained by the Government's outdated policies and discouraging attitude, the value, quantity and scale of production as well as the number of practitioners in the agriculture and fisheries industry have all been significantly reduced, and it is also difficult for the industry to pursue development through restructuring; in this connection, this Council urges the Government to remove the barriers for the agriculture and fisheries industry at the policy level, adjust outdated restrictions and proactively formulate comprehensive development strategies in accord with the actual situation in Hong Kong by making reference to international experience, so as to promote the sustainable development of the agriculture and fisheries industry."
Dr Helena Wong and Dr Kwok Ka-ki will move separate amendments to Mr Steven Ho's motion.
In addition, Members will continue to debate a motion on combating insurance frauds moved by Mr Chan Kin-por. The motion states: "That insurance frauds have become increasingly rampant and syndicated, and, in particular, frauds involving workmen's compensation insurance and motor vehicle insurance are ever-growing, resulting in continuous increase in the compensation amounts of relevant insurance and corresponding rise in insurance premiums, thereby increasing the operating costs of the various industries and trades, especially the transport sector as well as small and medium enterprises; although the relevant industries have been compelled to shift part of the costs to consumers, they are still facing operating difficulties; various sectors of the society have all along been at wit's end about what to do with the lawbreakers who are continuously engaged in insurance frauds, resulting in the rise of the absurd phenomenon of 'fraudsters cheating money, people footing the bill'; in this connection, this Council urges the Government to set up an inter-departmental task force to pool the efforts of various departments to comprehensively combat insurance frauds and plug the loopholes in the existing system."
Mr Lee Cheuk-yan will move an amendment to Mr Chan Kin-por's motion.
On bill, Members will resume Second Reading debate on the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Bill 2014. If the Bill is supported by Members and receive its Second Reading, it will then go 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 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. Members of the public can also watch or listen the meeting via the web broadcast system on the LegCo Website.
Ends/Monday, January 26, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:22
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