Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Email this article news.gov.hk
LegCo to debate motion on combating acts of bid-rigging in repair works of private residential buildings
***********************************************************

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (December 2) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on combating acts of bid-rigging in repair works of private residential buildings.

     The motion, to be moved by Mr Christopher Chung, states: "That this Council urges the Government to adopt effective measures to combat illegal acts of bid-rigging in repair works of private residential buildings (including subsidised sale flats)."

     Mr Wu Chi-wai will move an amendment to Mr Christopher Chung's motion.

     Dr Elizabeth Quat will also move a motion on strengthening the combat against the crime of wildlife smuggling. The motion states: "That, according to the survey of a wildlife conservation organisation and the latest scientific data available, the number of African elephants illegally killed for reason of ivory smuggling exceeds 33 000 a year, causing the number of African elephants to drop to only about 470 000, and the smuggling of rhino horns, fish maws and shark fins, etc. has even resulted in the near extinction of some species; the substantial profits from smuggling activities have attracted the participation of a number of transnational crime syndicates and terrorist organisations, thus making the implications arising from wildlife smuggling increasingly complicated, and wildlife smuggling, human trafficking, smuggling of narcotics and firearms, etc., have been recognised as the most serious illegal trading activities by the international community; as Hong Kong is a free port as well as an international aviation and transportation hub, quite a number of wildlife conservation organisations have pointed out that unscrupulous traders exploit the existing legal loopholes in Hong Kong to 'launder ivory', thereby turning Hong Kong into one of the international wildlife smuggling centres in recent years and causing a serious negative impact on Hong Kong's international image; in addition, given the severity of illegal killing of African elephants, the international community has become aware that the killing of elephants can only be stopped by putting an end to such trading, and therefore the international community, including Mainland China and the United States, has announced a tightening of the existing legislation and undertaken to take timely steps to halt domestic ivory trading in their countries; in this connection, this Council urges the Government to adopt effective measures to strengthen the combat against the crime of wildlife smuggling; the relevant measures should include:

(1) to step up the monitoring of wildlife smuggling and allocate additional resources to enhance the scale and enforcement capabilities of investigation teams, so as to stop crime syndicates from using Hong Kong as an illegal trading centre;

(2) to include offences committed for commercial purposes under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance in the ambit of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance and increase the penalties, so as to reflect the gravity of the offences concerned and combat such crimes more effectively;

(3) to strictly enforce the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance and improve the Ordinance and enhance enforcement work in a timely manner, so as to plug the loopholes and ensure that Hong Kong effectively fulfills her obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (the Convention), including prohibiting commercial trade in the species listed in Appendix I of the Convention;

(4) to explore further restrictions on the trade in ivory, other endangered wild animals and their products in Hong Kong, so as to ultimately achieve a total ban on the domestic trading of ivory, other endangered wild animals and their products; and

(5) to strengthen publicity and education to raise the awareness of consumers, including Hong Kong people and inbound visitors from Mainland China and overseas, about protecting elephants and other endangered species, and encourage them to 'say no' to ivory products as well as products of other endangered species."

     Ms Claudia Mo will move an amendment to Dr Elizabeth Quat's motion.

     On bill, the Financial Institutions (Resolution) Bill will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading.  The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.

     Meanwhile, Mr Paul Tse will move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Legislative Council Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 5) Order 2015 and the Maximum Amount of Election Expenses (Legislative Council Election) (Amendment) Regulation 2015 laid on the table of the Council on November 18, 2015 to the meeting of January 6, 2016.

     Mr Andrew Leung will move a motion under Rule 49E(2) of the Rules of Procedure.  The motion states: "That this Council takes note of Report No. 6/15-16 of the House Committee laid on the Table of the Council on December 2, 2015 in relation to the Solicitors' Accounts (Amendment) Rules 2012 (Commencement) Notice; the Accountant's Report (Amendment) Rules 2012 (Commencement) Notice; the Solicitors (Professional Indemnity) (Amendment) Rules 2012 (Commencement) Notice; the Solicitors' Practice (Amendment) Rules 2012 (Commencement) Notice; the Foreign Lawyers Practice (Amendment) Rules 2012 (Commencement) Notice; the Building (Standards of Sanitary Fitments, Plumbing, Drainage Works and Latrines) (Amendment) Regulation 2015; and the Building (Administration) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2015."

     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 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 "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website.

Ends/Monday, November 30, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:57

NNNN

Print this page