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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (July 11) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on developing co-operative relationship with the Mainland.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Tsang Yok-sing, states: "That, as Hong Kong's relationship with the Mainland is increasingly close since its reunification with the motherland, and experience has proved that enhancing co-operation between the two places can bring about a mutually beneficial and win-win effect, this Council urges the Government to continue to develop its co-operative relationship with the Mainland on all fronts, and set up a co-operation mechanism which is permanent and authoritative, covering more areas and levels, to undertake overall planning, co-ordination and policy formulation on important issues concerning co-operative development."
Hon Emily Lau, Hon Audrey Eu and Hon Albert Ho will move separate amendments to Hon Tsang Yok-sing's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on rights and interests of ethnic minorities. The motion, to be proposed by Hon Fred Li, says: "That, as the Administration has failed to provide the necessary support and protection for some 300,000 ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, and many of them have encountered difficulties on various fronts, creating barriers to their development and integration into the Hong Kong community, this Council urges the Administration to adopt measures to protect the rights and interests of ethnic minorities, including:
(a) on the education front, allocating additional resources to increase the number of designated schools in various districts which admit more non-Chinese speaking primary and secondary students and to provide appropriate support to the schools concerned and, at the same time, offering a curriculum and public examination for the subject of Chinese Language which are suitable for students of ethnic minorities, so that such students who are not proficient in Chinese can have equal opportunities to further their studies in schools, especially universities, and in employment;
(b) on the employment front, conducting vocational training courses and trade tests in English or the languages of ethnic minorities according to their needs, relaxing the entry requirement in respect of Chinese proficiency in the recruitment of staff by the Government and public sector organizations, and arranging for suitable posts to be filled by ethnic minorities as far as practicable, and also providing information on job vacancies in both Chinese and English and setting up a dedicated employment counter by the Labour Department to assist ethnic minorities visiting the Department in seeking employment;
(c) on the public services front, providing free interpretation service for ethnic minorities using public services, such as public healthcare, social and employment services, etc;
(d) on the religion and culture fronts, providing venues and other facilities in the districts in which a larger number of ethnic minorities resided in for conducting religious and cultural activities and, at the same time, enhancing civic education to promote public understanding of and respect for the cultures of ethnic minorities;
(e) ensuring, by means of comprehensive legislation and complementary measures, that ethnic minorities are not discriminated against; and
(f) formulating a well-thought out policy to facilitate the integration of ethnic minorities into the Hong Kong community."
Hon Choy So-yuk will move an amendment to Hon Fred Li's motion.
On government motions, the Secretary for Transport and Housing will move three resolutions under the Mass Transit Railway Ordinance to seek the Council's approval to the Mass Transit Railway (Amendment) Bylaw 2007, the Mass Transit Railway (North-west Railway) Bylaw, and the Mass Transit Railway (Transport Interchange) (Amendment) Bylaw 2007, made by the MTR Corporation Limited on 20 June, 2007. Meanwhile, the Secretary for Transport and Housing will move another resolution under the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance to seek the Council's approval to the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (Suspension of Bylaws) Bylaw 2007, made by the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation on 15 June, 2007.
On Members' motion, Hon Tsang Yok-sing will move a resolution under the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China to amend Rule 33 of the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
On bills, the Prevention of Bribery (Amendment) Bill 2007 and the Independent Police Complaints Council Bill will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Debates on the Bills will be adjourned. Meanwhile, Second Reading Debate on the Hazardous Chemicals Control Bill will resume. 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 also ask the Administration 20 questions on various policy areas, 6 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. Members of the public can also listen to the meeting via the audio webcast system on the Legislative Council homepage.
Ends/Monday, July 9, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:04
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