The LegCo Reporter 2001-2002

Issue No. 8 (13 July 2002)

At its meeting on 10, 11 and 12 July 2002, the Legislative Council passed the following eight bills: (1) Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2001, with amendments proposed by the Secretary for Justice at Committee Stage. (2) Import and Export (Electronic Transactions) Bill 2001, with amendments proposed by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology at Committee Stage. (3) Public Officers Pay Adjustment Bill, with amendments proposed by the Secretary for the Civil Service at Committee Stage. (4) Drug Trafficking and Organized Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2000, with amendments proposed by the Secretary for Security at Committee Stage. (5) United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Bill, with amendments proposed by the Secretary for Security at Committee Stage. The amendments proposed by Hon Mrs Selina CHOW LIANG Shuk-yee at Committee Stage were also passed. New Clause 14A proposed by Hon Albert HO Chun-yan was passed at Committee Stage. (6) Supplementary Appropriation (2001-2002) Bill 2002. (7) Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Amendment) Bill 2002, with amendments proposed by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury at Committee Stage. (8) CITIC Ka Wah Bank Limited (Merger) Bill. At the same meeting, the Council passed the following two resolutions with legislative effect: (1) Resolution moved by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology relating to the Copyright (Suspension of Amendments) Ordinance 2001 (Amendment) Notice 2002. (2) Resolution moved by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food relating to the Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulation 2002 and the Poisons List (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulation 2002. The following motion with no legislative effect was also passed by the Council: Motion on "Alleviating the hardship of negative-equity property owners", moved by Hon Albert CHAN Wai-yip as amended by Hon Howard YOUNG "That, whereas Hong Kong's economy has continued to be in the doldrums since the onset of the Asian financial turmoil, with the unemployment rate rising continuously, suicide cases occurring repeatedly, and many negative-equity property owners under severe pressure, the Government has not been doing its best to assist such persons, this Council urges the Government to expeditiously formulate effective measures to help negative-equity property owners tide over their difficulties, and to call on the banking sector, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited, the Hong Kong Housing Society, real estate developers and social service organizations to actively assist these people in relieving their pressure; this Council also hopes that negative-equity property owners will bravely face up to the adversity and cherish their precious lives."