LegCo Paper No. CB(3) 677/96-97
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
MINUTES No. 20 of 1996-97
Minutes of the sitting held on Wednesday 26 February 1997 at 2:30 pm
Members present:
President -- The Honourable Andrew WONG Wang-fat, OBE, JP
The Honourable Allen LEE Peng-fei, CBE, JP
The Honourable Mrs Selina CHOW LIANG Shuk-yee, OBE, JP
The Honourable Martin LEE Chu-ming, QC, JP
The Honourable SZETO Wah
The Honourable Edward HO Sing-tin, OBE, JP
The Honourable Ronald Joseph ARCULLI, OBE, JP
The Honourable Mrs Miriam LAU Kin-yee, OBE, JP
Dr the Honourable Edward LEONG Che-hung, OBE, JP
The Honourable Albert CHAN Wai-yip
The Honourable CHEUNG Man-kwong
The Honourable CHIM Pui-chung
The Honourable Michael HO Mun-ka
Dr the Honourable HUANG Chen-ya, MBE
The Honourable Emily LAU Wai-hing
The Honourable LEE Wing-tat
The Honourable Eric LI Ka-cheung, OBE, JP
The Honourable Fred LI Wah-ming
The Honourable Henry TANG Ying-yen, JP
The Honourable James TO Kun-sun
Dr the Honourable Samuel WONG Ping-wai, OBE, FEng, JP
Dr the Honourable Philip WONG Yu-hong
Dr the Honourable YEUNG Sum
The Honourable Zachary WONG Wai-yin
The Honourable Christine LOH Kung-wai
The Honourable James TIEN Pei-chun, OBE, JP
The Honourable LEE Cheuk-yan
The Honourable CHAN Kam-lam
The Honourable CHAN Wing-chan
The Honourable CHAN Yuen-han
The Honourable Andrew CHENG Kar-foo
The Honourable CHENG Yiu-tong
Dr the Honourable Anthony CHEUNG Bing-leung
The Honourable CHEUNG Hon-chung
The Honourable CHOY Kan-pui, JP
The Honourable David CHU Yu-lin
The Honourable Albert HO Chun-yan
The Honourable IP Kwok-him
The Honourable LAU Chin-shek
The Honourable Ambrose LAU Hon-chuen, JP
The Honourable LAW Chi-kwong
The Honourable LEE Kai-ming
The Honourable LEUNG Yiu-chung
The Honourable Bruce LIU Sing-lee
The Honourable LO Suk-ching
The Honourable Margaret NG
The Honourable NGAN Kam-chuen
The Honourable SIN Chung-kai
The Honourable TSANG Kin-shing
Dr the Honourable John TSE Wing-ling
The Honourable Mrs Elizabeth WONG CHIEN Chi-lien, CBE, ISO, JP
The Honourable Lawrence YUM Sin-ling
Members absent:
Dr the Honourable David LI Kwok-po, OBE, LLD(Cantab), JP
The Honourable NGAI Shiu-kit, OBE, JP
The Honourable LAU Wong-fat, OBE, JP
The Honourable Frederick FUNG Kin-kee
The Honourable Howard YOUNG, JP
The Honourable Paul CHENG Ming-fun
Dr the Honourable LAW Cheung-kwok
The Honourable MOK Ying-fan
Public officers attending:
- The Honourable Mrs Anson CHAN, CBE, JP
- The Chief Secretary
- The Honourable Donald TSANG Yam-kuen, OBE, JP
- The Financial Secretary
- The Honourable Jeremy Fell MATHEWS, CMG, JP
- The Attorney General
- Mr Michael SUEN Ming-yeung, CBE, JP
- Secretary for Home Affairs
- Mr Dominic WONG Shing-wah, OBE, JP
- Secretary for Housing
- Mrs Katherine FOK LO Shiu-ching, OBE, JP
- Secretary for Health and Welfare
- Mr Joseph WONG Wing-ping, JP
- Secretary for Education and Manpower
- Mr Peter LAI Hing-ling, JP
- Secretary for Security
- Miss Denise YUE Chung-yee, JP
- Secretary for Trade and Industry
- Mr Paul LEUNG Sai-wah, JP
- Secretary for Transport
Clerks in attendance:
- Mr Ricky FUNG Choi-cheung
- Secretary General
- Mrs Justina LAM CHENG Bo-ling
- Assistant Secretary General (2)
- Mr Ray CHAN Yum-mou
- Assistant Secretary General (3)
Before proceeding to the afternoon's business, the Council observed one minute's silence in memory of Mr DENG Xiaoping.
Papers
The following papers were laid on the table pursuant to Standing Order No. 14(2):
| Subsidiary Legislation | L.N. NO.
|
|---|
| 1. Specification of Public Office | 67/97
|
2. Motor Vehicles (First Registration Tax)
(Amendment) Ordinance 1997 (11 of 1997)
(Commencement) Notice 1997 | 68/97 |
Sessional Papers 1996-97
|
No.68 - | Trustee's Report on the Administration of the Education Scholarships Fund and the Audited Statement of Accounts together with the Director of Audit's Report for the year ended 31 August 1996 |
|
| No.69 - | Occupational Deafness Compensation Board Annual Report 1995/96 |
|
| No.70 - | The Legislative Council Commission
Annual Report 1995-1996 |
Questions
1. Mr David CHU asked Question 1.
The Secretary for Health and Welfare replied.
Eight Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Health and Welfare replied.
2. Mr CHENG Yiu-tong asked Question 2.
The Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.
10 Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.
3. Miss CHAN Yuen-han asked Question 3.
The Secretary for Housing replied.
Eight Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Housing replied.
4. Question 4 was withdrawn.
5. Mr WONG Wai-yin asked Question 5.
The Secretary for Transport replied.
Seven Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Transport replied.
Written replies to Questions 6 to 17 were tabled for Members information.
Government Motions
Public Bus Services Ordinance
The Secretary for Transport moved the following motion and addressed the Council:
That the franchise conferring the right on Citybus Limited to operate a public bus service on the routes specified in the Schedule of Routes (North Lantau and Chek Lap Kok Airport) (Citybus Limited) Order 1996 (L.N. 439 of 1996) and in any subsequent order made by the Governor in Council shall not, for the entire period of the franchise, be subject to sections 27, 28, 29 and 31 in Part V of the Public Bus Services Ordinance.
Question on the motion proposed, put and agreed to.
Public Bus Services Ordinance
The Secretary for Transport moved the following motion and addressed the Council:
That the franchise conferring the right on Long Win Holdings Limited to operate a public bus service on the routes specified in the Schedule of Routes (Long Win Holdings Limited) Order 1996 (L.N. 440 of 1996) and in any subsequent order made by the Governor in Council shall not, for the entire period of the franchise, be subject to sections 27, 28, 29 and 31 in Part V of the Public Bus Services Ordinance.
Question on the motion proposed, put and agreed to.
Public Bus Services Ordinance
The Secretary for Transport moved the following motion and addressed the Council:
That the franchise conferring the right on New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited to operate a public bus service on the routes specified in the Schedule of Routes (New Lantao Bus Company) Order 1996 (L.N. 259 of 1996) and in any subsequent order made by the Governor in Council shall not, for the entire period of the franchise, be subject to sections 27, 28, 29 and 31 in Part V of the Public Bus Services Ordinance.
Question on the motion proposed, put and agreed to.
Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance
In the absence of the Secretary for Education and Manpower, the President called upon the Attorney General to move the following motion on his behalf:
That the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Asbestos) Regulation, made by the Commissioner for Labour on 21 January 1997, be approved.
The Secretary for Education and Manpower spoke on the motion.
Question on the motion proposed, put and agreed to.
Government Bills
First Reading
Copyright Bill
The Bill was read the first time and ordered to be set down for Second Reading pursuant to Standing Order No. 41(3).
Second Reading
Copyright Bill
The Secretary for Trade and Industry moved the Second Reading and addressed the Council.
Question on the Second Reading proposed. The President stated that in accordance with Standing Orders, the debate was adjourned and the Bill was referred to the House Committee.
Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 1997
Resumption of debate on Second Reading which had been moved on 22 January 1997.
Question on Second Reading put and agreed to.
Bill read the second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Council.
Consumer Goods Safety (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 1996
Resumption of debate on Second Reading which had been moved on 24 April 1996.
Two Members spoke on the motion.
The Secretary for Trade and Industry replied.
Question on Second Reading put and agreed to.
Bill read the second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Council.
Toys and Children's Products Safety (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 1996
Resumption of debate on Second Reading which had been moved on 24 April 1996.
Question on Second Reading put and agreed to.
Bill read the second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Council.
Committee Stage
The Council went into Committee and considered the following Bills:
Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 1997
Question that the following clauses and schedule stand part of the Bill proposed.
Question on clauses 1 to 9 put and agreed to.
Question on schedule put and agreed to.
Consumer Goods Safety (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 1996
Question that the following clauses stand part of the Bill proposed.
Question on clauses 1 to 7 put and agreed to.
Toys and Children's Products Safety (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 1996
Question that the following clauses stand part of the Bill proposed.
Question on clauses 1 to 12 put and agreed to.
The Council then resumed.
Third Reading
The Attorney General reported that
the Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 1997
had passed through Committee without amendment. He moved that the Bill be read the third time and do pass.
Question on the Third Reading proposed, put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time and passed.
The Secretary for Trade and Industry reported that
the Consumer Goods Safety (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 1996 and the Toys and Children's Products Safety (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 1996
had passed through Committee without amendment. She moved that these two Bills be read the third time and do pass.
Question on the Third Reading of the two Bills proposed, put and agreed to.
Bills read the third time and passed.
Members' Motions
Matters relating to the Hong Kong elderly living in Guangdong
Mr CHAN Wing-chan moved the following motion and addressed the Council:
That, while welcoming the Government's decision to provide standard Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) and supplement to the elderly CSSA recipients who live in Guangdong province, this Council urges the Government to set up a working group to conduct a comprehensive study of matters relating to the Hong Kong elderly living in Guangdong, including the provision of medical service for them, their housing needs in the mainland and the problem of residence on their return to Hong Kong.
Question on the motion proposed.
A Member spoke on the motion.
At 5:12 pm, the Presidents Deputy took the chair during the temporary absence of the President.
Another six Members spoke on the motion.
At 5:46 pm, the President resumed the chair.
Five further Members and the Secretary for Health and Welfare spoke on the motion.
Mr CHAN Wing-chan replied.
Question on the motion put and agreed to.
Setting up of a maintenance board
Mr LAW Chi-kwong moved the following motion and addressed the Council:
That, in view of the difficulties encountered by many divorcees and their children in claiming the maintenance payments, this Council urges the Government to set up a maintenance board as an intermediate body, to take up the responsibilities for the collection, recovery, payment and relevant management work of maintenance payments, and to oblige divorcees to fulfill their obligations to support their children.
Question on the motion proposed.
10 Members and the Secretary for Home Affairs spoke on the motion.
Mr LAW Chi-kwong replied.
Question on the motion put and agreed to.
Next sitting
In accordance with Standing Orders, the President adjourned the Council until Thursday 27 February 1997.
Adjourned accordingly at four minutes past eight oclock.
(Andrew WONG)
President
Council Chamber
Hong Kong
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