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LegCo to debate a motion on reorganising the Government's structure to improve its policy implementation
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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (July 2) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on reorganising the Government's structure to improve its policy implementation.

     The motion to be moved by Mr Kenneth Leung, states: "That the current-term Government has repeatedly committed blunders in its policy implementation, and the policies as implemented are not in place and unable to respond to people's demands, coupled with the situations where a number of officials successively committed scandals and serious dereliction of duty, resulting in serious doubts about the Government's ability to govern and implement policies; in this connection, this Council urges the Government to examine afresh its operating structure, and after consulting the Legislative Council and the public, to effect improvement, adjustment and division of labour in respect of the functions, objectives and policy portfolios of various policy bureaux, and to conduct structural reorganisation on a need basis for enhancing the quality and competence of various policy bureaux and the departments under their purview in policy formulation and execution, making the Government's policy implementation more open, closely follow public opinions, integrated and consistent."

     Ms Emily Lau, Dr Elizabeth Quat and Mr Charles Peter Mok will move separate amendments to Mr Kenneth Leung's motion.

     Mr Michael Tien will also move a motion on returning a happy childhood to students. The motion states,"That the majority view of society has all along held that 'pressure leads to progress'; nowadays, there are many books and discussions available at the market about 'tiger moms and dads', 'helicopter parents' and 'monster parents', etc. for boosting children's learning, but excessive boosting may likely increase pressure on children and dampen their learning interests; the results of a survey conducted by the Programme for International Student Assessment show that some Hong Kong parents excessively intervene in children's learning and drill them by being over-anxious for results, rendering a decline of children's motivation to learn and a negative impact on their academic results; quite a number of media reports have also pointed out that some Hong Kong students have emotional problems because of heavy study pressure, and they become easily anxious and have symptoms such as insomnia, loss of appetite and irritability, etc.; all these problems are attributable to the education system which emphasises solely on examination results; at the stage of kindergarten education, parents have already enrolled their children in many types of interest classes and request them to do dictation and spelling exercises, etc.; at the stage of primary education, students need to participate in the Territory-wide System Assessment, the Internal Assessments for Secondary School Places Allocation purpose that take place at the end of Primary Five and both in mid-year and at the end of Primary Six, and the  Pre-Secondary One Hong Kong Attainment Test; at the stage of secondary education, students are faced with a shortage of university places and the 'die or live' pressure from the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination; in contrast, the education systems and teaching modes in many advanced places are better able to provide students with room for exploring their interests to enhance their creativity development; in this connection, this Council urges the Administration to:

(1) assess afresh the pressure and psychological impact of the existing education system on students, and comprehensively review the examination system, the curriculum contents and the mechanism for progression in education;

(2) enhance parental education to avoid parents from excessively boosting children's learning; and

(3) enhance the support for school social workers and teachers to facilitate them to early identify whether or not students are under excessive pressure."

     Dr Helena Wong, Ms Alice Mak, Mr Ip Kin-yuen, Dr Priscilla Leung and Mr Charles Peter Mok will move separate amendments to Mr Michael Tien's motion.

     Mr Wong Yuk-man will also move a motion for the adjournment of the Council under Rule 16(4) of the Rules of Procedure.  The motion states,"That this Council do now adjourn for the purpose of debating the following issue: the security arrangements adopted by the Legislative Council in respect of large-scale public events."

     In addition, Members will resume Second Reading debate on the Supplementary Appropriation (2013-2014) Bill and the Electoral Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2014 respectively.  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.

     The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Amendment) Bill 2014 will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings.  Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development will also move a proposed resolution under section 54A of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to seek the Council's approval to transfer the relevant statutory functions under the Electronic Transactions Ordinance from the Secretary for Commence and Economic Development and Permanent Secretary for Commence and Economic Development (Communications and Technology) to the Secretary for Innovation and Technology and Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology.

     Mr Chan Chi-chuen and Mr Albert Chan will move separate amendments to the proposed resolution moved by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.

     At the meeting, Chairman of the Panel on Home Affairs, Mr Ma Fung-kwok; Chairman of the Panel on Security, Mr Ip Kwok-him; and Chairman of the Panel on Constitutional Affairs, Mr Tam Yiu-chung, will present the 2013-2014 Reports of the related Panels and address the Council respectively.

     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.

     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found on the LegCo Website.

     Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Chamber of the LegCo Complex.  They may reserve seats by calling 3919 3399 during office hours.  Members of the public can also watch or listen the meeting via the web broadcast system on the LegCo Website.

Ends/Monday, June 30, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:49

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