Subsidiary Legislation	L.N. NO.
1. Auxiliary Forces Pay and Allowances (Pensions) Regulation	184/97
2. Ferry Services (The "Star" Ferry Company, Limited) (Determination of Fares) (Amendment) (No.2) Order 1997	185/97
3. Tramway Ordinance (Alteration of Fares) (Amendment) Notice 1997	186/97
4. Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation	187/97
5. Television (Royalty and Licence Fees) (Amendment) Regulation 1997	188/97
6. Housing Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule) Order 1997	189/97
7. Noise Control Ordinance (Exemption from Section 6(1) and (2) (Chek Lap Kok Airport)) Order	190/97
8. Emergency Powers (Extension and Amendment Incorporation) Ordinance (Expiry of Regulations) Order 1997	191/97
9. Official Languages (Alteration of Text Under Section 4D) (No.13) Order 1997	192/97
10. Official Languages (Alteration of Text Under Section 4D) (No.14) Order 1997	193/97
11. Rabies Regulation (Replacement of Schedule 1) Notice 1997	194/97
12. Travel Agents Ordinance (Specification of Fund Levy) Notice	195/97
13. Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance (19 of 1997) (Commencement) Notice 1997	196/97
14. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Pension Benefits Ordinance) Order	(C) 103/97
15. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (The Helena May Incorporation Ordinance) Order	(C) 104/97
16. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Society of Boys' Centres Incorporation Ordinance) Order	(C) 105/97
17. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (St. Joseph's College Incorporation Ordinance) Order	(C) 106/97
18. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (St. Stephen's College Incorporation Ordinance) Order	(C) 107/97
19. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children Incorporation Ordinance) Order	(C) 108/97
20. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Hong Kong Society for the Blind Incorporation Ordinance) Order	(C) 109/97
21. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Society for the Relief of Disabled Children Incorporation Ordinance) Order	(C) 110/97
22. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (St. John's College Ordinance) Order	(C) 111/97
23. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (St. Paul's College Council Incorporation Ordinance) Order	(C) 112/97
24. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Public Health (Animals and Birds) Ordinance) Order	(C) 113/97
25. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (The Hong Kong and China Gas Company (Transfer of Incorporation) Ordinance) Order	(C) 114/97
26. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Public Bus Services Ordinance) Order	(C) 115/97

Questions

1. Mrs Miriam LAU asked Question 1.

The Secretary for Economic Services replied.

Five Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Economic Services replied.

2. Miss Christine LOH asked Question 2.

The Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands replied.

Three Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands replied.

3. Dr YEUNG Sum asked Question 3.

The Secretary for Security replied.

Two Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Security replied.

4. Mr CHAN Wing-chan asked Question 4.

The Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.

Six Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.

5. Mr LEUNG Yiu-chung asked Question 5.

The Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.

A Member asked one supplementary and the Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.

6. Mr FUNG Kin-kee asked Question 6.

The Secretary for Housing replied.

Three Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Housing replied.

Written replies to Questions 7 to 19 were tabled for Members information.

Government Motions

Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance

The Secretary for Health and Welfare moved the following motion and addressed the Council:

That the Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) Regulation 1997, made by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board on 9 April 1997, be approved.

Question on the motion proposed.

A Member spoke on the motion.

The Secretary for Health and Welfare replied.

Question on the motion put and agreed to.

Government Bills

Second Reading

Places of Public Entertainment (Amendment) Bill 1997

Resumption of debate on Second Reading which had been moved on 5 March 1997.

Mrs Selina CHOW moved the following motion under Standing Order No.30(1) and addressed the Council:

That the Second Reading debate on the Bill should be adjourned.

Question on Mrs Selina CHOW's motion that the Second Reading debate on the Bill be adjourned was proposed.

Three Members spoke on Mrs CHOW's motion.

Mrs Selina CHOW replied.

Question on Mrs Selina CHOW's motion put and agreed to.

The President declared that the motion that the Second Reading debate on the Bill be adjourned was carried and that no further proceedings would be taken on the Bill at this sitting.

Buildings (Amendment) Bill 1997

Resumption of debate on Second Reading which had been moved on 23 April 1997.

Question on Second Reading put and agreed to.

Bill read the second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Council.

Noise Control (Amendment) Bill 1997

Resumption of debate on Second Reading which had been moved on 9 April 1997.

Question on Second Reading put and agreed to.

Bill read the second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Council.

Merchant Shipping (Collision Damage Liability and Salvage) Bill

Resumption of debate on Second Reading which had been moved on 9 April 1997.

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:

Buildings (Amendment) Bill 1997

Question that the following clauses stand part of the Bill proposed.

Question on clauses 1 to 5 put and agreed to.

Noise Control (Amendment) Bill 1997

Question that the following clauses stand part of the Bill proposed.

Question on clauses 1, 2 and 3 put and agreed to.

Merchant Shipping (Collision Damage Liability and Salvage) Bill

Question that the following clauses and schedules stand part of the Bill proposed.

Question on clauses 1 to 11 put and agreed to.

Question on schedules 1 and 2 put and agreed to.

The Council then resumed.

Third Reading

The Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands reported that

the Buildings (Amendment) Bill 1997 and

the Noise Control (Amendment) Bill 1997

had passed through Committee without amendment. He moved that these two Bills be read the third time and do pass.

Question on the Third Reading of the above two Bills proposed, put and agreed to.

Bills read the third time and passed.

The Secretary for Economic Services reported that

the Merchant Shipping (Collision Damage Liability and Salvage) Bill

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.

Members Motions

Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance

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

That in relation to the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation, published as Legal Notice No.127 of 1997 and laid on the table of the Legislative Council on 9 April 1997, the period referred to in section 34(2) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance (Cap.1) for amending subsidiary legislation be extended under section 34(4) of that Ordinance to the sitting of 14 May 1997.

Question on the motion proposed, put and agreed to.

Welfare for the elderly

Mr CHAN Wing-chan moved the following motion and addressed the Council:

That, as the problem associated with the ageing population in Hong Kong is becoming more serious and as the problem of poverty among the elderly has aroused grave concern in the community, this Council urges the Government to immediately increase the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance payment to the elderly, expeditiously formulate a comprehensive policy for the elderly and increase the allocation of resources, in order to meet their needs in areas such as finance, housing, medical care, residential care services, community support and settlement in the Mainland etc., so as to enable them to enjoy life in their old age.

Question on Mr CHAN Wing-chan's motion proposed. The President stated that Mr FUNG Kin-kee had given notice to move an amendment to the motion. He proposed that the motion and the amendment be debated together in a joint debate. There being no dissenting voice, the President ordered that the motion and the amendment be debated together in a joint debate.

Mr FUNG Kin-kee moved the following amendment to Mr CHAN Wing-chan's motion and addressed the Council:

To delete "immediately increase the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance payment to the elderly,"; to delete "," after "residential care services", and substitute with "and"; to delete "and settlement in the Mainland"; and to add "; and also urges the Government to introduce the following measures to improve the welfare for the elderly by: (1) increasing the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) payment to one-third of the median personal income, which is approximately $2,900; (2) raising the asset limit of CSSA applicants to $100,000; (3) allowing elderly CSSA recipients, who have settled in places outside Guangdong province in the Mainland, to continue to receive standard CSSA payment; and (4) providing elderly CSSA recipients, who have settled in the Mainland, with the same free medical services which they used to enjoy in Hong Kong" after "to enjoy life in their old age".

Question on Mr FUNG Kin-kee's amendment to Mr CHAN Wing-chan's motion proposed.

Nine Members spoke on the motion and the amendment.

Mr CHAN Wing-chan spoke on the amendment.

The Secretary for Health and Welfare spoke on the motion and the amendment.

Question on Mr FUNG Kin-kee's amendment to Mr CHAN Wing-chan's motion put and agreed to.

Mr CHAN Wing-chan replied.

Question on Mr CHAN Wing-chan's motion as amended by Mr FUNG Kin-kee put and agreed to.

Implementation of mother-tongue education

Mrs Selina CHOW moved the following motion and addressed the Council:

That this Council supports the Governments adoption of measures under the Firm Guidance on Secondary Schools Medium of Instruction to expeditiously implement fully the policy of mother-tongue education which has already been put in place for nearly a decade, so that secondary school students will be able to learn more effectively in their everyday language; furthermore, in order to make up for the environment of mother-tongue education in which students may be less exposed to the English language, this Council urges the Government to strengthen the teaching of the English language in secondary schools so as to enhance the basic proficiency of local students in using English as the second language to complement their pursuit of further studies and future careers, thereby helping the territory to establish its advantageous position as a bilingual society and to maintain its competitiveness in the international business community.

Question on Mrs Selina CHOW's motion proposed. The President stated that Dr LAW Cheung-kwok had given notice to move an amendment to the motion. He proposed that the motion and the amendment be debated together in a joint debate. There being no dissenting voice, the President ordered that the motion and the amendment be debated together in a joint debate.

Dr LAW Cheung-kwok moved the following amendment to Mrs Selina CHOW's motion and addressed the Council:

To add "in view of the generally low standard of Chinese and English among local students," after "That,"; to delete "supports the Governments adoption of measures under the Firm Guidance on Secondary Schools Medium of Instruction" and substitute with "urges the Government"; to delete "so that secondary school" and substitute with "so as to enable"; to delete "will be able"; to delete "in their everyday language; furthermore, in order to make up for the environment of mother-tongue education in which students may be less exposed to the English language, this Council urges the Government to strengthen the teaching of the English language in secondary schools so as to enhance the basic proficiency of local students in using English as the second language to" and substitute with "; this Council also urges the Government to substantially increase the allocation of resources to improve teacher training and teaching facilities and enhance the proficiency of students to become biliterate and trilingual (Putonghua, Cantonese and English), which will"; to delete "future"; and to delete ", thereby helping the territory to establish its advantageous position as a bilingual society and to maintain its" and substitute with "and at the same time, strengthen the territorys".

Question on Dr LAW Cheung-kwok's amendment to Mrs Selina CHOW's motion proposed.

At 6:10 pm, the President's Deputy took the chair during the temporary absence of the President.

Nine Members spoke on the motion and the amendment.

At 7:02 pm, the President resumed the chair.

Another three Members spoke on the motion and the amendment.

Mrs Selina CHOW spoke on the amendment.

The Secretary for Education and Manpower spoke on the motion and the amendment.

Question on Dr LAW Cheung-kwok's amendment to Mrs Selina CHOW's motion put and negatived.

Mrs Selina CHOW replied.

Question on Mrs Selina CHOW's original motion put and agreed to.

Next sitting

In accordance with Standing Orders, the President adjourned the Council until Wednesday 14 May 1997.

Adjourned accordingly at thirteen minutes to eight oclock.

(Andrew WONG)
President
Council Chamber
Hong Kong

Last Updated on {{PUBLISH AUTO[[DATE("d mmm, yyyy")]]}}

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

MINUTES No. 30 of 1996-97 Minutes of the sitting held on Wednesday 7 May 1997 at 2:30 pm

Papers

Questions

Government Motions

Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance

Government Bills

Second Reading

Places of Public Entertainment (Amendment) Bill 1997

Buildings (Amendment) Bill 1997

Noise Control (Amendment) Bill 1997

Merchant Shipping (Collision Damage Liability and Salvage) Bill

Committee Stage

Buildings (Amendment) Bill 1997

Noise Control (Amendment) Bill 1997

Merchant Shipping (Collision Damage Liability and Salvage) Bill

Third Reading

Members Motions

Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance

Welfare for the elderly

Implementation of mother-tongue education

Next sitting

MINUTES
No. 30 of 1996-97
Minutes of the sitting held on Wednesday 7 May 1997 at 2:30 pm