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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 9) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on constitutional reform.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Ronny Tong, states: "That, as the SAR Government and the Chief Secretary for Administration have repeatedly stated in public that the existing functional constituency elections do not comply with the principle of 'universality' and 'equality', and as universal suffrage models should comply with this fundamental principle and Hong Kong people also hope that discussions on universal suffrage models can commence as soon as possible, this Council urges the Government to proactively motivate various sectors to engage in extensive and in-depth discussions and studies on the selection of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage upon nomination in accordance with 'democratic procedures' as provided under Article 45 of the Basic Law and on the way to deal with the issue of functional constituencies, so as to forge consensus on universal suffrage models and implement dual universal suffrage as early as possible."
Hon Jeffrey Lam and Hon Leung Kwok-hung will move separate amendments to Hon Ronny Tong's motion.
Members will debate another motion on Hong Kong's co-operation with ASEAN region. The motion, to be moved by Hon Andrew Leung, says: "That, after the financial tsunami, the focus of global development is shifting from Europe and the United States to Asia, and the economies of the East Asian region are also gradually moving towards integration; Hong Kong is geographically positioned in the core zone between Mainland China and ASEAN, and with the formal launch of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA), economic and trade activities in CAFTA will be increasing, which will lead to continuous growth in the demand for capital, logistics and professional services in CAFTA in the future; in this connection, this Council urges the Government to vigorously promote economic and trade collaboration between Hong Kong and ASEAN, so as to capitalise on Hong Kong's advantage in connecting the Mainland, in particular the Pearl River Delta, with ASEAN region."
On Government motions, the Chief Secretary for Administration will move two resolutions under Article 73(7) of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and section 7A of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance to seek the Council's endorsement to the appointment of the Honourable Mr Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li as the Chief Justice of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal pursuant to section 6 of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance (Cap. 484), and the appointment of the Honourable Mr Justice Robert Tang Ching, the Honourable Mr Justice Frank Stock, and the Honourable Mr Justice Michael John Hartmann as non-permanent Hong Kong judges of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal pursuant to section 8 of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance (Cap. 484).
In addition, the Secretary for Food and Health will move a resolution under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance to seek the Council's approval to the Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2010 and the Poisons List (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2010, made by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board on May 19, 2010.
On bills, Members will resume Second Reading debate on the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2010. 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, 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 web broadcast system on the Legislative Council homepage.
Ends/Monday, June 7, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:17
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