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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 (July 13) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will deal with the remaining proceedings after the Second Reading of the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill 2016.
Members will also resume the Second Reading debate on the Private Columbaria Bill and the Fire Services (Amendment) Bill 2015. 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.
On Members' bill, Members will resume the Second Reading debate on the Bank of Communications (Hong Kong) Limited (Merger) Bill. 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.
On Members' motions, Ms Claudia Mo will move two proposed resolutions under section 34(2) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance. The first proposed resolution is moved to resolve that the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Animal Traders) (Amendment) Regulation 2016 and the Specification of Public Offices (Amendment) Notice 2016 laid on the table of the Legislative Council on May 25, 2016, be repealed. The second proposed resolution is moved to amend the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Animal Traders) (Amendment) Regulation 2016.
Mr Ip Kwok-him will move a proposed resolution under Article 75 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China to amend Rule 83 (registration of interests) of the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Mr Wong Yuk-man will move a motion under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance. The motion states: "That this Council appoints a select committee to inquire into the incident of the alleged airport security breach by the family members of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying during the period from the night of March 27 to the small hours of March 28, 2016, and other related matters; and that in the performance of its duties the committee be authorized under section 9(2) of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance (Cap. 382) to exercise the powers conferred by section 9(1) of that Ordinance."
Ms Claudia Mo will also move a motion under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance. The motion states: "That this Council appoints a select committee to inquire into the detention of Mr Lam Wing-kee; and that in the performance of its duties the committee be authorized under section 9(2) of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance (Cap. 382) to exercise the powers conferred by section 9(1) of that Ordinance."
Mr Tommy Cheung will move a motion on actively studying the establishment of a middle class commission. The motion states: "That this Council requests the Government to actively study the establishment of a middle class commission."
Mr Frankie Yick, Mr Sin Chung-kai, Mr Christopher Cheung, Dr Kwok Ka-ki and Ms Starry Lee will move separate amendments to Mr Tommy Cheung's motion.
Mr Yiu Si-wing will also move a motion on reconstructing the image of Hong Kong's tourism industry. The motion states: "That according to the Third Quarter Economic Report 2015 published by the Government in November 2015, inbound tourism slackened further in the third quarter of 2015, and overall visitor arrivals to Hong Kong fell by 6.4% as compared to the same period last year, the first decline since the third quarter of 2009; the Report also points out that exports of travel services (covering visitors' spending on shopping, food and beverages, accommodation and entertainment, etc.) fell by 5.6% in real terms in the third quarter, and the average achieved hotel room rate also dropped by 13.1% as compared to the same period last year; as the share of tourists' shopping expenditure in retail sales value has been substantial (around 42% in 2014), the further slackening of inbound tourism has led to a decline in Hong Kong's total retail sales value for seven consecutive months this year, recording the longest downward trend over the past six years; this will also further affect Hong Kong's economy and employment; in this connection, this Council urges the Government to seriously review the reasons for the decline in visitor arrivals to Hong Kong, formulate corresponding measures and allocate additional resources to reconstruct the positive image of the tourism industry, with a view to preventing the continued decline in visitor arrivals to Hong Kong which will affect Hong Kong's economic development."
Mr Tang Ka-piu, Mr Poon Siu-ping, Mr Gary Fan, Mr Paul Tse, Mr Chan Hak-kan, Mr Charles Mok, Mr Sin Chung-kai, Mr Jeffrey Lam and Dr Fernando Cheung will move separate amendments to Mr Yiu Si-wing's motion.
In addition, 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 successive 'forced disappearance' of the shareholders and managers of Causeway Bay Books."
Mr Wong Yuk-man will make a request under section 7 of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance (Cap. 382) and Rule 90 of the Rules of Procedure for special leave of the Council to give evidence of Council proceedings.
During the meeting, the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Mr Chan Kin-por, will present the Report of the Finance Committee on the examination of the Estimates of Expenditure 2016-2017 and address the Council. The Chairman of the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Mr Tam Yiu-chung, will present the Committee on Rules of Procedure Progress Report for the period October 2015 to July 2016 and address the Council.
The Chairman of the Panel on Development, Mr Tony Tse; the Chairman of the Panel on Commerce and Industry, Mr Wong Ting-kwong; The Chairman of the Panel on Manpower, Mr Kwok Wai-keung; The Chairman of the Panel on Financial Affairs, Mr Ng Leung-sing; The Chairman of the Panel on Welfare Services, Mr Cheung Kwok-che; The Chairman of the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services, Mr Martin Liao; The Deputy Chairman of the Panel on Health Services, Dr Leung Ka-lau; The Chairman of the Panel on Education, Dr Lam Tai-fai; and the Chairman of the Panel on Transport, Mr Michael Tien, will present the 2015-2016 Reports of the related Panels and address the Council respectively.
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, July 11, 2016
Issued at HKT 22:27
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