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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (June 28) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on policy on care for the elderly.
The motion, to be proposed by Dr Hon Joseph Lee Kok-long, says: "That, in view of the ageing of Hong Kong's population, this Council urges the Government to expeditiously implement a policy on care for the elderly which is geared to 'healthy ageing', to help them enjoy their old age peacefully and comfortably."
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Hon Li Kwok-ying and Dr Hon Fernando Cheung will move separate amendments to Dr Hon Joseph Lee Kok-long's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on facilitating urban development. The motion, to be moved by Hon Patrick Lau Sau-shing, states: "That, while countries and places around the world all consider urban development as the essential element to enhancing competitiveness and are vigorously expediting their pace of urban development, many barriers that hinder urban development still exist in Hong Kong, the competitive edge of which is gradually diminishing; as such, this Council urges the Government to expeditiously review its policies affecting urban development and implement improvement measures, including:
(a) on the premise of sustainable development, commissioning a comprehensive consultancy study on such issues as planning enhancement, optimum land use, adjustment of development intensity, promotion of urban design, environment-friendly construction, infrastructures, community facilities, redevelopment of old areas, urban revitalisation, preservation of cultural heritage, urban greening and air quality improvement, etc, as well as expeditiously implementing various works projects to resolve the unemployment problem in the construction industry;
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(b) setting up a high-level ad hoc committee to co-ordinate the various efforts in facilitating urban development, including extensively and efficiently soliciting public views, complementing the Eleventh Five-year Plan as well as the Shenzhen 2030 Development Strategy in the Mainland, and expeditiously publishing reports on the different stages of Hong Kong 2030: Planning Vision and Strategy; and
(c) streamlining the approval procedures of the Town Planning Board, Lands Department and Buildings Department to shorten the construction time of works projects and improve the business environment,
with a view to expediting urban development, improving the public's quality of life, beautifying the environment, promoting tourism, creating job opportunities, attracting investment and boosting economic development, so as to develop Hong Kong into a beautiful and vibrant world city in Asia, thereby enhancing its competitiveness."
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Dr Hon Yeung Sum and Hon Albert Ho will move separate amendments to Hon Patrick Lau Sau-shing's motion.
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On bills, Members will resume Second Reading on the Certification for Employee Benefits (Chinese Medicine) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2005. 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.
During the meeting, Members will ask the Government 20 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the Legislative Council InfoFax Service (Tel: 2869 9568) or the Legislative Council web site (http://www.legco.gov.hk).
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.
Ends/Monday, June 26, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:15
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