PLC Paper No. 400/96-97

Paper

Mr IP Kwok-him, Convenor of the Working Group on Administrative Matters, presented the report of the Working Group on Administrative Matters on the provision of secretariat support to the Provisional Legislative Council on and after 1 July 1997 and addressed the Council.
(PLC Paper No. 165/96-97 issued under the cover of PLC Paper No. 192/96-97 on 7 May 1997)

A Member raised a question to seek elucidation and Mr IP Kwok-him responded.


Bills

First Reading

Urban Council (Amendment) Bill 1997
Regional Council (Amendment) Bill 1997
District Boards (Amendment) Bill 1997
Societies (Amendment) Bill 1997
Public Order (Amendment) Bill 1997

The Bills were read the first time and ordered to be set down for Second Reading pursuant to Rule 53(3) of the Rules of Procedure.


Second Reading

Urban Council (Amendment) Bill 1997
Regional Council (Amendment) Bill 1997
District Boards (Amendment) Bill 1997
Societies (Amendment) Bill 1997
Public Order (Amendment) Bill 1997

The Secretary for Policy Co-ordination moved the Second Reading and addressed the Council on each of the above five Bills.

Questions on the Second Reading proposed. The President stated that in accordance with Rule 54(4) of the Rules of Procedure, the debates on the above Bills were adjourned and the Bills were referred to the House Committee.


Members' Motions

Adoption of the Report of the Working Group on Administrative Matters

Mr IP Kwok-him moved the following motion and addressed the Council:

     "That this Council adopts the report of the Working Group on Administrative Matters presented on 17 May 1997 and that the Chief Executive's Office should introduce such legislation as is necessary to implement the proposals set out in paragraphs 8 and 9 of the report."

Question on the motion proposed, put and agreed to.


Increasing the Standard Rate under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme for the Elderly

Mr CHAN Choi-hi moved the following motion and addressed the Council:

     "That with the present Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) payments to the elderly in the territory barely enough to provide them with a reasonable and dignified standard of living, this Council urges the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to increase the standard monthly rate under the CSSA Scheme for the elderly by $600 immediately upon its establishment."

Question on Mr CHAN Choi-hi's motion proposed.

The President stated that Mr FUNG Kin-kee had given notice to move an amendment to the motion. She proposed that the motion and the proposed amendment be debated together in a joint debate. There being no dissenting voice, the President ordered that the motion and the proposed amendment be debated together in a joint debate.

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

     "To add ", under social welfare expenditure," after "to increase"; to delete "$600 immediately" and substitute "not less than $300 as soon as possible"."

Question on Mr FUNG Kin-kee's amendment to Mr CHAN Choi-hi's motion proposed.

Mr NGAI Shiu-kit moved the following motion under Rule 40(1) of the Rules of Procedure and addressed the Council:

     "That the debate on Mr CHAN Choi-hi's motion should be adjourned."

Question on Mr NGAI Shiu-kit's motion proposed.

10 Members spoke on Mr NGAI Shiu-kit's motion.

Mr NGAI Shiu-kit replied.

Question on Mr NGAI Shiu-kit's motion put.

Mr FUNG Kin-kee and Mr CHAN Choi-hi claimed a division. The President then ordered the Council to proceed to a division under Rule 47(4) of the Rules of Procedure.

The President announced that there were 39 votes for the motion and 5 votes against it. (Voting record in the Appendix.) She declared that Mr NGAI's motion was carried and that no further proceedings would be taken on the motion moved by Mr CHAN Choi-hi at this meeting.


Next meeting

The President declared that the next meeting of the Council would be held on 24 May 1997 at 9:30 am.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:53 pm.

(Mrs Rita FAN)
President
10 June 1997