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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting on Wednesday (June 24) at 11 am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on seizing the chance to turn the risks from the "Three Direct Links" across the Taiwan Strait into opportunities.
The motion, to be proposed by Hon Mrs Sophie Leung, says: "That, since the implementation of the 'Three Direct Links', i.e. direct maritime, air and postal links, across the Taiwan Strait in December last year, coupled with the impact of the financial tsunami, the air passenger and air cargo traffic of Hong Kong has, to a certain extent, been affected; however, apart from promoting cross-strait exchanges and trade flows, the 'Three Direct Links' across the Taiwan Strait is also a development opportunity for Hong Kong; as such, this Council urges the Government to formulate a comprehensive plan to turn the 'Three Direct Links' across the Taiwan Strait into an opportunity for Hong Kong to further develop the relations among the three places across the Taiwan Strait, including:
(a) conducting a study on fully opening up air rights on a reciprocal basis with the Mainland and Taiwan, so as to raise Hong Kong's position as a regional and international aviation centre;
(b) strengthening cooperation with the neighbouring airports in the Pearl River Delta to achieve complementarity of edge, so as not to result in mismatched development and to consolidate Hong Kong's status in aviation;
(c) putting into place arrangement for mutual visa-free access between Hong Kong and Taiwan, and establishing formal channels among the three places across the Taiwan Strait to strengthen exchanges and cooperation at the non-government and societal level as well as in areas of tourism, culture and creativity, etc; and
(d) setting up a high level inter-departmental task force to study and coordinate long-term development plans for promoting economic and trade cooperation among the three places across the Taiwan Strait."
Hon Tommy Cheung, Hon Alan Leong, Hon Albert Chan, Hon Fred Li, Hon Ip Wai-ming, Hon Wong Ting-kwong and Dr Hon Priscilla Leung will move separate amendments to Hon Mrs Sophie Leung's motion.
Members will debate another motion on strengthening human resources in the fields of finance and trade. The motion, to be moved by Dr Hon Philip Wong, says: "That, in the face of the impact of the financial tsunami, as well as many uncertain factors in the development of the global economic situation, Hong Kong must strengthen its own human resources in order that its position as a regional financial and trade centre can be consolidated; in this connection, this Council urges the Special Administrative Region Government to comprehensively review the existing policies and measures, with a view to strengthening the manpower training provided by local tertiary institutions in the fields of finance and trade, and further attracting relevant professionals across the world to Hong Kong."
Hon James To, Hon Mrs Regina Ip, Hon Wong Kwok-hing and Hon Leung Kwok-hung will move separate amendments to Dr Hon Philip WONG's motion.
Members will also debate a motion for the adjournment of the Council. The motion, to be moved by Hon Cheung Man-kwong, says: "That this Council do now adjourn for the purpose of debating the following issue: the relocation of Christian Zheng Sheng College to the former Heung Yee Kuk Southern District Secondary School in Mui Wo."
Meanwhile, Hon Audrey Eu will move a resolution under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending subsidiary legislation in relation to the Air Pollution Control (Volatile Organic Compounds) (Amendment) Regulation 2009, laid on the table of the Legislative Council on May 27, 2009, to the first sitting of the next session of the Legislative Council.
On Government motions, the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs will move a resolution under the Race Discrimination Ordinance and the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to amend the Race Discrimination (Proceedings by Equal Opportunities Commission) Regulation.
In addition, the Secretary for Food and Health will move a resolution under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance to resolve that the Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2009 and the Poisons List (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2009, made by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board on June 3, 2009, be approved.
On Bills, the Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2009, the Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2009, the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2009 and the Bunker Oil Pollution (Liability and Compensation) Bill will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Debates on the Bills will be adjourned.
Second Reading Debates on the Voting by Imprisoned Persons Bill, the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2009, the Supplementary Appropriation (2008-2009) Bill and the Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Amendment) Bill 2009 will resume. 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.
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 (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 22, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:09
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