AGENDA FOR FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2006, AT 3:00 P.M.

Declaration of interest :Please refer to Rule 84(3) of the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council for rules regarding pecuniary interest to be disclosed.

Item No.Subject
1.FCR(2006-07)26RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE MADE ON 22 NOVEMBER 2006

(This item seeks approval of the recommendations of the Public Works Subcommittee made at its meeting held on 22 November 2006.)

2.FCR(2006-07)27HEAD 26 - CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT
Subhead 700 General non-recurrent

(This item invites Members to accept in principle the financial commitment for Hong Kong to host the 59th Session of the International Statistical Institute in 2013.)

(In attendance : The Principal Assistant Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services)/the Commissioner for Census and Statistics/the Senior Statistician (Development) of Census and Statistics Department)

(Discussed by Financial Affairs Panel on 6 November 2006)

3.FCR(2006-07)28HEAD 170 - SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT
Subhead 179 Comprehensive social security assistance scheme
Subhead 180 Social security allowance scheme

(This item invites Members to -

(a)approve revised rates of standard payments under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme and the Disability Allowance under the Social Security Allowance Scheme with effect from 1 February 2007 to take account of inflation; and

(b)note the financial implications of (a) above, estimated at $183 million in annually recurrent expenditure.)

(In attendance : The Deputy Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food (Elderly Services and Social Security)/the Principal Assistant Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food (Elderly Services and Social Security)/the Assistant Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food (Elderly Services and Social Security)/the Deputy Director of Social Welfare (Administration)/the Chief Social Security Officer of Social Welfare Department/the Senior Statistician of Social Welfare Department)

(Discussed by Welfare Services Panel on 13 November 2006)

4.FCR(2006-07)29HEAD 156 - GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT :
EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BUREAU
Subhead 000 Operational expenses
Subhead 700 General non-recurrent

HEAD 173 - STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY
Subhead 228 Student financial assistance

(This item invites Members to approve the following-

(a)introduction of a Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme to provide direct fee subsidy for parents to meet towards school fees for pre-primary education in eligible kindergartens;

(b)consequential to (a) above, modifications and transitional arrangements under the Kindergarten and Child Care Centre Subsidy Scheme and the Kindergarten and Child Care Centre Fee Remission Scheme; and

(c)a non-recurrent commitment of $70 million for the provision of a one-off cash grant to all kindergartens to support school development.)

(In attendance : The Secretary for Education and Manpower/the Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower/the Deputy Secretaries for Education and Manpower/the Principal Assistant Secretary for Education and Manpower/the Controller, Student Financial Assistance Agency)

(Discussed by Education Panel on 13 and 21 November 2006)

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