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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 27) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on lowering the mandatory provident fund management fees.
The motion, to be proposed by Hon Miriam Lau, says: "That, in view of the relatively high management fees charged under the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) schemes and their less than satisfactory investment returns, this Council urges the Government to immediately adopt relevant measures and create favourable conditions to promote competition in the MPF management market, thereby effectively lowering the management fees of the MPF schemes, and appropriately increase the variety and flexibility of their investments as well as strengthen the monitoring of their investment performance, with a view to preventing the erosion of the hard-earned money contributed to the MPF by both employees and employers, and enhancing the effectiveness of the MPF in providing protection to employees' retirement life."
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Hon Sin Chung-kai, Hon Chan Kam-lam, and Hon Wong Kwok-hing will move separate amendments to Hon Miriam Lau's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on elderly in poverty. The motion, to be moved by Hon Frederick Fung, states: "That this Council endorses the Report on Elderly in Poverty by the Subcommittee to Study the Subject of Combating Poverty and urges the Government to implement the recommendations therein."
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Hon Mrs Selina Chow will move an amendment to Hon Frederick Fung's motion.
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Moreover, Hon James To will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to amend the Shenzhen Bay Port Hong Kong Port Area (Permission to Enter) Notice, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on May 9, 2007.
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On other motions, Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance.
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Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food will also move a resolution under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance to seek the Council's approval to the Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulation 2007 and the Poisons List (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulation 2007, made by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board on June 5, 2007.
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On bills, Members will resume Second Reading debates on the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2006 and the Tsing Sha Control Area Bill. If the Bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Readings, they will then go through the Committee Stage and be read the third time.
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Meanwhile, the Attachment of Income Order (Application to Government and Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2007, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Amendment) Bill 2007, and the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2007 will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Debate on the bills will be adjourned.
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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).
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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 25, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:45
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