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

The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (February 23) at 2.30 pm in the Legislative Council Chamber. During the meeting, the second reading debate on the Mass Transit Railway Bill will be resumed.

The Bill was introduced into the Legislative Council on 13 October 1999. It provides for the grant of a franchise to the MTR Corporation Limited ("the Corporation") to operate the Mass Transit Railway; the regulation of the operation of the railway under the franchise; and the vesting in the Corporation of the whole of the property, rights and liabilities of the Mass Transit Railway Corporation.

If the Bill is supported by Members and receives the second reading, it will then go through the committee stage and be read the third time.

In addition, second reading debates on the Exchanges and Clearing Houses (Merger) Bill and the Firearms and Ammunition (Amendment) Bill 1999 will also be resumed during the meeting.

Meanwhile, Hon Mrs Miriam LAU will present the Report of the Bills Committee on Mass Transit Railway Bill; Hon Ronald ARCULLI will present the Report of the Bills Committee on Exchanges and Clearing Houses (Merger) Bill and Hon James TO will present the Report of the Bills Committee on Firearms and Ammunition (Amendment) Bill 1999.

The Employment (Amendment) Bill 2000, the Entertainment Special Effects Bill and the Drug Dependent Persons Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres (Licensing) Bill will be introduced into the Council for first and second readings. Debates on these bills will be adjourned.

In the meantime, Members will debate a motion on developing the semiconductor industry. The motion, to be proposed by Dr Hon LUI Ming-wah, states "That, as semiconductor products are the foundation of technology-based industries and the mainstay of various industries, this Council urges the Government to actively develop the semiconductor industry in Hong Kong, so as to promote economic development and create job opportunities."

Hon SIN Chung-kai will move an amendment to the above motion.

Members will also debate a motion on the system of long-term employment for construction workers. The motion, to be moved by Hon Andrew CHENG, says "That this Council urges the authorities concerned to adopt positive measures to promote the system of long-term employment for construction workers, which include:

(a) conducting a comprehensive review on the progress of implementing the 'Supporting Pledge for Long-term Employment of Construction Workers' and expediting the implementation of the proposals contained therein;

(b) taking the lead to restrict the number of tiers involved in the sub-contracting system and require the contractors to employ a certain proportion of long-term workers when awarding government and Housing authority construction contracts, as well as encouraging private contractors to employ workers on a long-term basis;

(c) promoting a registration system for construction workers and establishing a database of human resources in different trades of the industry;

(d) strengthening the training in skills and job safety for construction workers and facilitating them to acquire multi-faceted skills, so as to upgrade their skills and enhance their awareness in iductrial safety; and

(e) reviewing the contents of trade tests for the construction industry in order to meet the needs of the industry; so as to provide construction workers with better job security, to ensure stable human resources for the construction industry and thus to upgrade the project quality and safety of the construction industry."

Hon CHAN Wing-chan and Hon HO Sai-chu will move amendments to Hon Andrew CHENG's motion.

Moreover, Hon Ronald ARCULLI will propose a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to

Extend the period for amending four pieces of subsidiary legislation, which were laid on the table of the Legislative Council on 26 January 2000, to the meeting of 1 March 2000. They include: the Legislative Council (Formation of Election Committee) (Appeals) (Amendment) Regulation 2000, the Legislative Council (Subscribers and Election Deposit for Nomination) (Amendment) Regulation 2000, the Distribution of Number of Members Among Designated Bodies (Election Committee) (Legislative Council) Order 2000, and the Maximum Scale of Election Expenses (Legislative Council) Order 1997 (Amendment) Order 2000.

During the meeting, Members will ask the Government 20 questions on various policy areas, 6 of which require oral replies.

The full agenda of the meeting can be obtained via the Legislative Council InfoFax Service (Tel. No.: 2869 9568).

Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Legislative Council Chamber. They may reserve seats by calling 2869 9399 during office hours. Seats will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

End/Monday, February 21, 2000

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