LegCo to debate motion on the Report of the duty visit to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
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The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (December 12) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on the Report of the joint-Panel delegation of the Panel on Economic Development, Panel on Financial Affairs, Panel on Commerce and Industry, and Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting on its duty visit to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The motion, moved by Mr Jeffrey Lam, states: "That this Council notes the Report of the joint-Panel delegation of the Panel on Economic Development, Panel on Financial Affairs, Panel on Commerce and Industry, and Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting on its duty visit to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from April 20 to 22, 2018."
Ms Starry Lee will move a motion under Rule 49E(2) of the Rules of Procedure. The motion states: "That this Council takes note of Report No. 7/18-19 of the House Committee laid on the Table of the Council on December 12, 2018 in relation to the Peak Tramway (Safety) (Amendment) Regulation 2018, the Peak Tramway Ordinance (Amendment of Section 3(3)) Notice 2018 and the Financial Institutions (Resolution) (Loss-absorbing Capacity Requirements—Banking Sector) Rules."
Meanwhile, Dr Pierre Chan will move a motion on requesting the Government to set up crisis support centres for sexual violence victims and abused children in public hospitals. The motion states: "That given the rising trend in the number of cases of sexual violence and child abuse in Hong Kong in recent years, this Council urges the Government to allocate additional resources to the Hospital Authority for, in accordance with the Guidelines for medico-legal care for victims of sexual violence issued by the World Health Organization, setting up a crisis support centre in public hospitals respectively in the New Territories, on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon to provide sexual violence victims and abused children (victims) with 24-hour one-stop services; details of recommendations are as follows:
(1) designating a suitable place with high privacy protection for setting up a 24-hour one-stop crisis support centre in three public hospitals, thereby allowing victims to receive treatment and follow-up services and undergo necessary procedures, including medical treatment, forensic examinations, reporting to the Police, statement taking (with the provision of facilities for the Police to take statements from victims by way of video-recorded interview), receiving support and counselling from social workers, in the same place;
(2) properly maintaining overall statistics on victims receiving diagnosis and treatment or undergoing examinations, giving statements to the Police and undergoing forensic examinations in public hospitals;
(3) instructing the Social Welfare Department to review the existing procedural guide for regulating the handling of child abuse cases while clarifying its coordination role to foster cooperation with the Police, health care personnel and other departments, in order to provide abused children with timely assistance and follow-up;
(4) providing frontline personnel (including police officers and social workers) with professional and specialised training to enhance their sensitivity and skills in handling cases of sexual violence and child abuse involving different genders, backgrounds, cultures and sexual orientations; and
(5) formulating uniform standards of interpretation and translation services for languages of various ethnic minorities and providing training for interpreters to ensure that they render interpretation and translation services to ethnic minorities victims in a professional and impartial manner."
Ms Alice Mak, Mr Shiu Ka-chun and Dr Fernando Cheung will move separate amendments to Dr Pierre Chan's motion.
Mr Martin Liao will move a motion on fully transforming into a green and low-carbon smart society and economy, and proactively alleviating and coping with global climate change. The motion states: "That given the worsening problem of global climate change and the imminent crisis, this Council urges the SAR Government to cope with climate change more proactively, lead various social sectors and all people to fully transform Hong Kong into a green and low-carbon smart society and economy, and review at an appropriate time and enhance as appropriate Hong Kong's capabilities to withstand extreme weather and adapt to climate change, with a view to making every endeavour to help alleviate this crisis faced by all mankind, providing Hong Kong people with due protection of their lives and properties, and promoting the sustainable development of the society and economy."
Dr Lo Wai-kwok, Mr Hui Chi-fung, Mr Kwok Wai-keung, Mr Charles Mok, Mr Gary Fan, Mr Chu Hoi-dick, Dr Elizabeth Quat, Dr Kwok Ka-ki and Mr Kenneth Leuing will move separate amendments to Mr Martin Liao's motion.
In addition, Dr Kwok Ka-ki will move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Antiquities and Monuments (Declaration of Monuments and Historical Buildings) (Consolidation) (Amendment) Notice 2018 laid on the table of the Council on November 21, 2018 to the meeting of January 9, 2019.
Ms Starry Lee will move two proposed resolutions. The first proposed resolution, moved under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance, is to extend the period for amending the Road Tunnels (Government) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulation 2018, the Tsing Ma Control Area (Tolls, Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulation 2018 and the Tsing Sha Control Area (Tolls, Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulation 2018 laid on the table of the Council on December 5, 2018 to the meeting of January 23, 2019. The second proposed resolution, moved under section 3(5) of the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance, is to extend the period for repealing the Fugitive Offenders (France) Order laid on the table of the Council on December 5, 2018 to the meeting of January 23, 2019.
On Government Bills, the Inland Revenue and MPF Schemes Legislation (Tax Deductions for Annuity Premiums and MPF Voluntary Contributions) (Amendment) Bill 2018, the Inland Revenue (Profits Tax Exemption for Funds) (Amendment) Bill 2018, the Fire Safety (Industrial Buildings) Bill and the Discrimination Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2018 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bills will be adjourned.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary for Administration will present "The Government Minute in response to The Annual Report of The Ombudsman 2018" and address the Council on the Government Minute.
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 to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website.
Ends/Monday, December 10, 2018
Issued at HKT 19:40
Issued at HKT 19:40
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