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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (January 14) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on establishing an independent statutory Office of the Health Service Ombudsman.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Andrew Cheng, states: "That, given the current lack of a uniform and credible mechanism for handling health service complaints from members of the public, this Council urges the Administration to, without violating the principle of professional autonomy, establish an independent statutory Office of the Health Service Ombudsman to receive complaints concerning health service from the public, investigate and conciliate complaints as well as handle compensation matters under a uniform mechanism, so as to ensure that complaints targeting at health service are properly handled, and thereby improving the quality of health service."
Hon Chan Hak-kan will move an amendment to Hon Andrew Cheng's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on formulating a comprehensive elderly policy. The motion, to be proposed by Hon Cheung Kwok-che, says: "That, given the trend of an ageing population, the Government estimates that elderly people aged 65 and above in 2036 will constitute 27% of the total population and amount to over two million; as the services in areas such as welfare, housing, medical and health care as well as life development currently provided by the Government for the elderly are insufficient to cater for the overall needs of the elderly in various aspects, coupled with the fact that at present the majority of the elderly people do not have full retirement protection, this Council urges the Government to consolidate the various existing elderly services and coordinate the relevant bureaux and executive departments to formulate a comprehensive and forward-looking elderly policy which, apart from catering for their physical and psychological needs, provides the elderly with more opportunities to enable them to actively participate in social building and continue to contribute to the community, so as to provide 'golden twilight years' for the increasingly sizeable elderly population."
Hon Tam Yiu-chung, Hon Wong Kwok-hing, Hon Wong Sing-chi and Hon Frederick Fung will move separate amendments to Hon Cheung Kwok-che's motion.
During the meeting, Members will also ask the Administration 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. Members of the public can also listen to the meeting via the audio webcast system on the Legislative Council homepage.
Ends/Monday, January 12, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:36
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