The LegCo Reporter 2004-2005		Issue No. 3 (4 November 2004)
At its meeting on 3 November 2004, the Legislative Council passed the following two motions with no legislative effect: (1) Motion on "Reducing the duty on ultra low sulphur diesel", moved by Hon Miriam LAU Kin-yee as amended by Hon Ronny TONG Ka-wah "That this Council urges the Government to expeditiously review the current rate of duty on ultra low sulphur diesel with a view to easing the hardship caused by the high cost of ultra low sulphur diesel to the affected industries, especially the transport industry which is the hardest hit, and to ensure that end-users of ultra low sulphur diesel can really benefit from any reduction of the duty rate." (2) Motion on "Alleviating the disparity between the rich and the poor", moved by Hon Frederick FUNG Kin-kee as amended by Hon James TIEN Pei-chun "That, as the Hong Kong economy has entered an inflation period, yet the unemployment rate remains high, with wages not showing an evident rebound and the disparity between the rich and the poor becoming more serious, this Council urges the Government to set up a governmental interdepartmental committee on aiding the poor to comprehensively examine the disparity between the rich and the poor in Hong Kong, so as to enhance the self-help capability of the socially disadvantaged groups and enable a more effective allocation of social resources, thereby helping those who are most in need and safeguarding the basic needs of the grass-roots people; at the same time, the Government should co-ordinate the efforts of various departments in formulating corresponding policies as well as measures to help get rid of poverty, with a view to narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor, reducing social conflicts and promoting harmonious social development."