The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     In view of the latest situation of COVID-19 epidemic in Hong Kong, to minimise the risk of infection among people who need to perform duties in the Legislative Council (LegCo) Complex and having regard to Members' views, the President of LegCo, Mr Andrew Leung, has decided that the scheduled regular Council meeting on Wednesday (March 25) will not be held.
 
     As LegCo had yet to complete the consideration of the proposed resolution moved under the Public Finance Ordinance (the Vote on Account resolution) at its last week's meeting, and the funds to be sought are time-critical, the President of LegCo has decided to call a Council meeting on the same day at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex to continue to consider the Vote on Account resolution and related matters (the VoA item).
 
     The Vote on Account resolution is moved by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (SFST) under the Public Finance Ordinance to seek the Council's approval to give for a sum not exceeding $215,865,713,000 to be charged on the general revenue for expenditure on the services of the Government in respect of the financial year commencing on April 1, 2020. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 1.
 
     Dr Fernando Cheung, Mr Wu Chi-wai and Mr Andrew Wan will move four separate amending motions to SFST's proposed resolution. The motions are set out in Appendices 2-5 respectively. 
 
     If the consideration of the VoA item cannot be completed at the meeting on Wednesday (March 25), the meeting will resume at 9am on Thursday (March 26).
 
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

Ends/Monday, March 23, 2020
Issued at HKT 19:18

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