LegCo Paper No. CB 110/95-96

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
MINUTES
No. 3 of 1995/96

Minutes of the sitting held on Wednesday, 25 and Thursday, 26 October 1995 at 2.30 p.m.

Present:

    President : The Honourable Andrew WONG Wang-fat, O.B.E., J.P.
    The Honourable Allen LEE Peng-fei, C.B.E., J.P.
    The Honourable Mrs. Selina CHOW LIANG Shuk-yee, O.B.E., J.P.
    The Honourable Martin LEE Chu-ming, Q.C., J.P.
    Dr. the Honourable David LI Kwok-po, O.B.E., LL.D.(Cantab), J.P.
    The Honourable NGAI Shiu-kit, O.B.E., J.P.
    The Honourable SZETO Wah
    The Honourable LAU Wong-fat, O.B.E., J.P. (absent on 26.10.95)
    The Honourable Edward HO Sing-tin, O.B.E., J.P.
    The Honourable Ronald Joseph ARCULLI, O.B.E., J.P.
    The Honourable Mrs. Miriam LAU Kin-yee, O.B.E., J.P.
    Dr. the Honourable Edward LEONG Che-hung, O.B.E., J.P.
    The Honourable Albert CHAN Wai-yip
    The Honourable CHEUNG Man-kwong
    The Honourable CHIM Pui-chung
    The Honourable Frederick FUNG Kin-kee
    The Honourable Michael HO Mun-ka
    Dr. the Honourable HUANG Chen-ya, M.B.E.
    The Honourable Emily LAU Wai-hing
    The Honourable LEE Wing-tat
    The Honourable Eric LI Ka-cheung, J.P.
    The Honourable Fred LI Wah-ming
    The Honourable Henry TANG Ying-yen, J.P. (absent on 26.10.95)
    The Honourable James TO Kun-sun
    Dr. the Honourable Samuel WONG Ping-wai, M.B.E., F.Eng., J.P.
    Dr. the Honourable Philip WONG Yu-hong
    Dr. the Honourable YEUNG Sum
    The Honourable Howard YOUNG, J.P.
    The Honourable Zachary WONG Wai-yin
    The Honourable Christine LOH Kung-wai
    The Honourable James TIEN Pei-chun, O.B.E., J.P.
    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 Paul CHENG Ming-fun
    The Honourable CHENG Yiu-tong
    The Honourable Anthony CHEUNG Bing-leung
    The Honourable CHEUNG Hon-chung
    The Honourable CHOY Kan-pui, J.P.
    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, J.P.
    Dr. the Honourable LAW Cheung-kwok
    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 MOK Ying-fan
    The Honourable Margaret NG
    The Honourable NGAN Kam-chuen
    The Honourable SIN Chung-kai
    The Honourable TSANG Kin-shing (absent on 25.10.95) Dr. the Honourable John TSE Wing-ling
    The Honourable Mrs. Elizabeth WONG CHIEN Chi-lien, C.B.E., I.S.O., J.P.
    The Honourable Lawrence YUM Sin-ling

In attendance:

The Honourable Mrs. Anson CHAN, C.B.E., J.P.
The Chief Secretary
The Honourable Donald TSANG Yam-kuen, O.B.E., J.P.
The Financial Secretary
The Honourable Jeremy Fell MATHEWS, C.M.G., J.P.
The Attorney General
Mr. Michael SUEN Ming-yeung, C.B.E., J.P.
Secretary for Home Affairs
Mr. Leo KWAN Wing-wah, J.P.
Secretary for Economic Services
Mr. Alan LAI Nin, J.P.
Secretary for the Treasury
Mr. Ricky FUNG Choi-cheung
Clerk to the Legislative Council
Mr. LAW Kam-sang
Deputy Clerk to the Legislative Council
Miss Pauline NG Man-wah
Assistant Clerk to the Legislative Council
Mr. Ray CHAN Yum-mou
Assistant to the Legislative Council

NEXT SITTING

PAPERS

The following papers were laid on the table pursuant to Standing Order 14(2) :

Subsidiary Legislation

L.N. NO.

1. Gas Safety (Gas Supply) (Amendment) Regulation 1995

462/95

2. Census and Statistics (1996 Population Census) Order

463/95

3. Telecommunication (Low Power Devices) (Exemption from Licensing) (Amendment) Order 1995

464/95

4. Building (Administration) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulation 1995

466/95

5. Marine Fish Culture (Amendment) Regulation 1995

467/95

6. Official Languages (Alteration of Text under Section 4D) Order 1995

468/95

7. Official Languages (Alteration of Text) (Detention Centres Ordinance) Order 1995

469/95

8. Official Languages (Alteration of Text) (Registration of Local Newspapers Ordinance) Order 1995

470/95

9. Official Languages (Alteration of Text) (Waste Disposal Ordinance) Order 1995

471/95

10. Foreign Lawyers Practice (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 1995

472/95

11. Solicitors' Practice (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 1995

473/95

12. Film Censorship (Amendment) Ordinance 1995 (74 of 1995) (Commencement) Notice 1995

474/95

13. Medical Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 1995 (87 of 1995) (Commencement) Notice 1995

475/95

14. Unconscionable Contracts Ordinance (Cap. 458) (Commencement) Notice 1995

476/95

15. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Judicial Service Commission Ordinance) Order

(C)74/95

16. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Detention Centres Ordinance) Order

(C)75/95

17. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Public Service Commission Ordinance) Order

(C)76/95

18. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Registration of Local Newspapers Ordinance) Order

(C)77/95

19. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Prisons Ordinance) Order

(C)78/95

20. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (The Hong Kong Association of Banks Ordinance) Order

(C)79/95

21. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Cross-Harbour Tunnel Ordinance) Order

(C)80/95

22. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Eastern Harbour Crossing Ordinance) Order

(C)81/95

23. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Waste Disposal Ordinance) Order

(C)82/95

Sessional Papers 1995/96

No. 9

-

Urban Council Annual Report 1994/95

No. 10

-

Urban Council Accounts for the year ended 31 March 1995 with Report and Certificate of the Director of Audit

No. 11

-

Fish Marketing Organization - Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 1995

No. 12

-

Vegetable Marketing Organization - Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 1995

No. 13

-

Marine Fish Scholarship Fund Report for the period from 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995

No. 14

-

Agricultural Products Scholarship Fund Report for the period from 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995

QUESTIONS

Written replies to Questions 1 to 20 were tabled for Members’ information.

PRIVATE MEMBER’S MOTIONS

ANNOUNCEMENT

The President stated that when the Council voted on Mr. LEE Cheuk-yan’s amendment to Mr. David CHU’s motion at the last sitting on 18 October, he directed that a second division be conducted after he had noted from the result of the first division on Mr. LEE’s amendment that a number of Members had not been able to register their votes. He said that the decision was made on the basis of the practice in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom Parliament where the Speaker had corrected the result of a division after he had been satisfied that some genuine mistakes had been made in the course of a division. As a number of Members had not been able to register their votes in the first division, it should be regarded as invalid. The President further said that he would explain the voting procedure to Members in each division in the first few months of this session.

INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES ORDINANCE

Mr. Ronald ARCULLI moved the following motion and addressed the Council :

That the Port Control (Cargo Working Areas) (Amendment) Regulation 1995, published as Legal Notice No. 321 of 1995 and laid on the table of the Legislative Council on 19 July 1995, be repealed.

Question on the motion proposed.

11 Members, the Secretary for Economic Services and the Secretary for the Treasury spoke on the motion.

Question on the motion put. The President stated that he thought the motion had been carried.

Mrs. Miriam LAU claimed a division. The President then ordered the Council to divide under Standing Order 36(4).

The President announced that there were 49 votes for the motion, six votes against it and one abstention. (Voting record in Annex I.) He declared that Mr. Ronald ARCULLI’s motion was carried.

MOTION OF THANKS

Dr. C.H. LEONG moved the following motion and addressed the Council :

That this Council thanks the Governor for his address.

Question on the motion proposed.

15 Members spoke on the motion.

At 6:30 p.m., the President’s Deputy took the chair during the temporary absence of the President.

Another 2 Members spoke on the motion.

At 6:55 p.m., the President resumed the chair.

A further 10 Members spoke on the motion.

The President suspended the sitting at 9:05 p.m.

The Council resumed at 2:30 p.m. on 26 October 1995 and continued the debate on the Motion of Thanks.

31 Members spoke on the motion.

Dr. C.H. LEONG moved that the debate be adjourned.

Question on the motion proposed, put and agreed to.

ADJOURNMENT

The importance of encouraging broad education and modern-day literacy (e.g. computer literacy) in Hong Kong.

The President stated that since the adjournment moved by Mrs. Elizabeth WONG had to be cut short at the last sitting through the lack of a quorum, he had directed that the debate should stand over until this sitting, having regard to the spirit of Standing Order 10(4) regarding procedures for dealing with divisions which might be rendered invalid as a result of the lack of a quorum.

2 Members and the Secretary for Education and Manpower spoke on the matter.

Question on the adjournment proposed, put and agreed to.

NEXT SITTING

In accordance with Standing Orders, the President adjourned the Council until Thursday, 2 November 1995.

Adjourned accordingly at fifteen minutes past nine o’clock.

Last Updated on 29 July 1999