AGENDA FOR FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY, 27 MAY 2011, AT 3:00 P.M.

Declaration of interest : Please refer to Rules 83A and 84 of the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council for rules regarding pecuniary interest to be disclosed.

Item No. Subject
1. FCR(2011-12)15 RECOMMENDATION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT SUBCOMMITTEE MADE ON 4 MAY 2011

(This item seeks approval of the recommendation of the Establishment Subcommittee made at its meeting held on 4 May 2011.)

2. FCR(2011-12)16 HEAD 173 - STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY
Subhead 228 Student financial assistance

LOAN FUND
HEAD 254 - LOANS TO STUDENTS
Subhead 101 Students of the universities, the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education and Hong Kong Design Institute of the Vocational Training Council, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Hong Kong Institute of Education and Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Subhead 103 Means-tested loan for post-secondary students

(This item invites Members to approve -

(a) relaxation of the income ceiling for full level of assistance under the means test mechanism of the Student Financial Assistance Agency;

(b) adjustment of the existing tiers of assistance for students pursuing publicly-funded and self-financing post-secondary programmes;

(c) increase in the amount of academic expenses grant provided to needy students pursuing publicly-funded and self-financing post-secondary programmes by $1,000 each per year for those eligible for full level of assistance and by a proportionate amount for those eligible for less than full assistance;

(d) increase in the amount of flat-rate grant under the School Textbook Assistance Scheme from $408 to $1,000 per student per year for full-grant students and from $204 to $500 per student per year for half-grant students; and

(e) supplementary provision of $573 million under Head 173 Student Financial Assistance Agency Subhead 228 Student financial assistance in 2011-12 to implement the proposals in (a) to (d) above from the 2011/12 academic year.

(In attendance : The Under Secretary for Education/the Deputy Secretary for Education/the Controller, Student Financial Assistance Agency/the Deputy Controller (1), Student Financial Assistance Agency/the Deputy Controller (2), Student Financial Assistance Agency)

(Discussed by Education Panel on 9 May 2011)

3. FCR(2011-12)17 HEAD 173 - STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY
Subhead 228 Student financial assistance

(This item invites Members to approve changes and improvements to the Examination Fee Remission Scheme with effect from the 2011/12 academic year.)

(In attendance : The Under Secretary for Education/the Deputy Secretary for Education/the Controller, Student Financial Assistance Agency/the Deputy Controller (2), Student Financial Assistance Agency)

(Discussed by Education Panel on 11 April 2011)

4. FCR(2011-12)18 HEAD 170 - SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT
Subhead 179 Comprehensive social security assistance scheme

(This item invites Members to approve -

(a) an increase in the standard rates under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme for adult recipients aged below 60 who are either persons with disabilities or in ill-health;

(b) an extension of the coverage of the Community Living Supplement under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme to include recipients who are not living in institutions and who are either persons with disabilities at non-severe levels, persons in ill-health or elders;

(c) an increase in the monthly rate of the Community Living Supplement from $120 to $250; and

(d) a supplementary provision of $514 million under Head 170 Social Welfare Department Subhead 179 Comprehensive social security assistance scheme to implement the above measures.

(In attendance : The Deputy Secretary for Labour and Welfare (Welfare)/the Principal Assistant Secretary for Labour and Welfare (Welfare)/the Deputy Director of Social Welfare (Administration)/the Chief Social Security Officer (Social Security) of Social Welfare Department)

(Discussed by Welfare Services Panel on 9 May 2011)

5. FCR(2011-12)19 CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND
HEAD 708 - CAPITAL SUBVENTIONS AND MAJOR SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Lands Department
New Subhead "Replacement of Aerial Camera System"

(This item invites Members to approve a new commitment of $41,580,000 to replace the film-based aerial camera system by one set of large format digital aerial camera system.)

(In attendance : The Principal Assistant Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands)/the Assistant Director of Lands (Survey and Mapping)/the Senior Land Surveyor (Photogrammetry) of Lands Department)

(Relevant paper had been circulated to Development Panel on 21 March 2011)

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