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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 20) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on policy on nursing manpower.
The motion, to be proposed by Dr Hon Joseph Lee Kok-long, says: "That, despite the increasing demand for health care services in Hong Kong in recent years, the Government has failed to work out a long-term plan for nursing human resources, resulting in a significant shortage of nurses over the years, and the lack of promotion prospects in public hospitals has led to low morale and persistent wastage of nurses; moreover, the Hospital Authority has recently projected that the number of nurses would still fall short of the demand in the coming years; in view of the above factors, this Council is worried that the quality of nursing services in public hospitals will decline and therefore urges the Government to expeditiously implement the following measures to maintain the quality of nursing services in Hong Kong:
(a) devising a comprehensive and long-term plan for human resources for general and psychiatric nursing services;
(b) formulating an appropriate manpower ratio between nurses and clients of nursing care;
(c) allocating more resources to the training of nurses and increasing the places for degree programmes on nursing;
(d) improving the pay and promotion prospects of nurses in public hospitals to curb the wastage of nurses; and
(e) facing up to the problem of 'de-nursing' and ensuring that nursing services are provided by nurses to clients of nursing care."
Dr Hon Fernando Cheung will move an amendment to Dr Hon Joseph Lee Kok-long's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on demonstrating the people's power on July 1. The motion, to be moved by Hon James To Kun-sun, states: "That this Council appeals to all the people of Hong Kong to demonstrate the people's power once again on July 1 this year to fight for the building of a society of democracy, prosperity and social justice for Hong Kong."
Hon Martin Lee will move an amendment to Hon James To Kun-sun's motion.
Moreover, Hon James To will move a resolution under the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance to extend the period for repealing the Fugitive Offenders (Malaysia) (Amendment) Order 2007 and Fugitive Offenders (Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism) Order, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on May 23, 2007, to the meeting of July 11, 2007.
Hon Margaret Ng will also move a resolution under the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance to extend the period for repealing the Fugitive Offenders (Corruption) Order, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on May 30, 2007, to the first sitting of the next session of the Legislative Council.
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 website (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. Members of the public can also listen to the meeting via the audio webcast system on the Legislative Council homepage.
Ends/Monday, June 18, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:00
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