REVISED AGENDA FOR FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY, 18 July 2008, AT 9:00 A.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(2008-09)40HEAD 53 - GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT : HOME AFFAIRS BUREAU
Subhead 700 General non-recurrent
New Item "Trust Fund in Support of Reconstruction in the Sichuan Earthquake Stricken Areas"

(This item invites Members to approve the creation of a new commitment of $2 billion for injection into the Trust Fund in Support of Reconstruction in the Sichuan Earthquake Stricken Areas as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's financial commitment to the reconstruction support work at the initial stage.)

(In attendance : The Chief Secretary for Administration/the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs/the Secretary for Development/the Secretary for Labour and Welfare/the Secretary for Home Affairs/the Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs/the Permanent Secretary for Education/the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works)/the Deputy Secretary for Food and Health (Health))

(Briefing for the Finance Committee on 14 July 2008)

2.FCR(2008-09)41HEAD 170 - SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT
Subhead 179 Comprehensive social security assistance scheme
Subhead 180 Social security allowance scheme

HEAD 62 - HOUSING DEPARTMENT
Subhead 700 General non-recurrent
Item 883 Rent payment for public housing tenants

HEAD 147 - GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT : FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY BUREAU (THE TREASURY BRANCH)
Subhead 700 General non-recurrent
Item 881 Electricity charges subsidy for eligible residential accounts

HEAD 173 - STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY
Subhead 700 General non-recurrent
New item "One-off support grant for needy students"

(This item invites Members to approve -

(a)the provision of one additional month of the standard rate of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance payment for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients, one additional month of allowance for Disability Allowance recipients and two additional months of allowance for Old Age Allowance recipients;

(b)an increase in commitment from $840 million by $1,680 million to $2,520 million under Head 62 Housing Department Subhead 700 General non-recurrent Item 883 for the provision of two months' rent for the lower income families living in the rental units of the Hong Kong Housing Authority and the Hong Kong Housing Society;

(c)an increase in commitment from $4,400 million by $4,400 million to $8,800 million under Head 147 Government Secretariat : Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (The Treasury Branch) Subhead 700 General non-recurrent Item 881 for the provision of electricity charges subsidy for eligible residential households;

(d)a new non-recurrent commitment of $550 million under Head 173 Student Financial Assistance Agency Subhead 700 General non-recurrent for the provision of a one-off support grant for needy students; and

(e)supplementary provisions of $1,030 million and $840 million under Head 170 Social Welfare Department Subhead 179 Comprehensive social security assistance scheme and Subhead 180 Social security allowance scheme respectively.

(In attendance : The Chief Secretary for Administration/the Secretary for Education/the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury/the Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury)/the Secretary for Labour and Welfare)/the Deputy Secretary for Labour and Welfare (Welfare)/the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing)/the Controller, Student Financial Assistance Agency)

(Announced at Chief Executive's Question and Answer Session on 16 July 2008)

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