LC Paper No. CB(3) 1630/98-99

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

MINUTES
No. 36
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Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 12 May 1999 at 2:30 pm
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Members present:

President
The Hon Mrs Rita FAN, GBS, JP

The Hon Kenneth TING Woo-shou, JP
The Hon James TIEN Pei-chun, JP
The Hon David CHU Yu-lin
The Hon HO Sai-chu, JP
The Hon Cyd HO Sau-lan
The Hon Edward HO Sing-tin, JP
The Hon Albert HO Chun-yan
The Hon Michael HO Mun-ka
Dr The Hon Raymond HO Chung-tai, JP
The Hon LEE Wing-tat
The Hon LEE Cheuk-yan
The Hon Martin LEE Chu-ming, SC, JP
The Hon Eric LI Ka-cheung, JP
The Hon LEE Kai-ming, JP
Dr The Hon David LI Kwok-po, JP
The Hon Fred LI Wah-ming
Dr The Hon LUI Ming-wah, JP
The Hon NG Leung-sing Prof
The Hon NG Ching-fai
The Hon Margaret NG
The Hon Mrs Selina CHOW LIANG Shuk-yee, JP
The Hon Ronald ARCULLI, JP
The Hon MA Fung-kwok
The Hon James TO Kun-sun
The Hon CHEUNG Man-kwong
The Hon Ambrose CHEUNG Wing-sum, JP
The Hon HUI Cheung-ching
The Hon Christine LOH
The Hon CHAN Kwok-keung
The Hon CHAN Yuen-han
The Hon Bernard CHAN
The Hon CHAN Wing-chan
The Hon CHAN Kam-lam
Dr The Hon LEONG Che-hung, JP
The Hon Mrs Sophie LEUNG LAU Yau-fun, JP
The Hon LEUNG Yiu-chung
The Hon Gary CHENG Kai-nam
The Hon SIN Chung-kai
The Hon Andrew WONG Wang-fat, JP
Dr The Hon Philip WONG Yu-hong
The Hon WONG Yung-kan
The Hon Jasper TSANG Yok-sing, JP
The Hon Howard YOUNG, JP
Dr The Hon YEUNG Sum
The Hon YEUNG Yiu-chung
The Hon LAU Chin-shek, JP
The Hon LAU Kong-wah
The Hon LAU Wong-fat, GBS, JP
The Hon Mrs Miriam LAU Kin-yee, JP
The Hon Ambrose LAU Hon-chuen, JP
The Hon Emily LAU Wai-hing, JP
The Hon CHOY So-yuk
The Hon Andrew CHENG Kar-foo
The Hon SZETO Wah
The Hon Timothy FOK Tsun-ting, JP
The Hon LAW Chi-kwong, JP
The Hon TAM Yiu-chung, JP
The Hon FUNG Chi-kin
Dr The Hon TANG Siu-tong, JP

Public officers attending:

The Honourable Mrs Anson CHAN, JP

The Chief Secretary for Administration

The Honourable Donald TSANG Yam-kuen, JP

The Financial Secretary

Mr Nicholas NG Wing-fui, JP

Secretary for Transport

Mrs Katherine FOK LO Shiu-ching, JP

Secretary for Health and Welfare

Mr Rafael HUI Si-yan, GBS, JP

Secretary for Financial Services

Mr Joseph WONG Wing-ping, GBS, JP

Secretary for Education and Manpower

Mr KWONG Ki-chi, GBS, JP

Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting

Mr Stephen IP Shu-kwan, JP

Secretary for Economic Services

Mr David LAN Hong-tsung, JP

Secretary for Home Affairs

Clerks in attendance:

Mr Ricky FUNG Choi-cheung, JP,

Secretary General

Mr Ray CHAN Yum-mou,

Assistant Secretary General (3)

Before proceeding to deal with the business on the Agenda, the Council observed one minute's silence in memory of those compatriots killed in the NATO bombing of our Embassy in Yugoslavia.

Papers

The following papers were laid on the table pursuant to Rule 21(2) of the Rules of Procedure:

Subsidiary Legislation		L.N. No.
1.	District Councils (Subscribers and Election Deposit for Nomination) Regulation	113/99
2.	Maximum Scale of Election Expenses (District Councils) Order 1999	114/99
3.	Electoral Affairs Commission (Nominations Advisory Committees (District Councils)) Regulation	115/99
4.	Nurses (Registration and Disciplinary Procedure) (Amendment) Regulation 1999	116/99
5.	Enrolled Nurses (Enrolment and Disciplinary Procedure) (Amendment) Regulation 1999	117/99
6.	Lifts and Escalators (Safety) (Amendment) Ordinance 1999 (4 of 1999) (Commencement) Notice 1999	118/99

Questions

1. Hon CHEUNG Man-kwong asked Question 1.

The Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.

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

2. Hon Emily LAU asked Question 2.

The Secretary for Health and Welfare replied.

Seven Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Health and Welfare replied.

3. Hon Fred LI asked Question 3.

The Secretary for Health and Welfare replied.

Six Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Health and Welfare replied.

4. Hon CHENG Kai-nam asked Question 4.

The Secretary for Home Affairs replied.

Four Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Home Affairs replied.

5. Hon Mrs Selina CHOW asked Question 5.

The Secretary for Transport replied.

Seven Members asked supplementaries and the Secretary for Transport replied.

6. Hon YEUNG Yiu-chung asked Question 6.

The Secretary for Education and Manpower replied.

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

Written replies to Questions 7 to 20 were tabled for Members' information.

Bills

First Reading

Telecommunication (Amendment) Bill 1999

The Bill was 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

Telecommunication (Amendment) Bill 1999

The Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting moved the Second Reading and addressed the Council.

Question on the Second Reading proposed. The President stated that in accordance with Rule 54(4) of the Rules of Procedure, the debate was adjourned and the Bill was referred to the House Committee.

Resumption of Second Reading debate

Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution) (Amendment) Bill 1999

The debate on the Second Reading which had been moved on 31 March 1999 resumed.

Question on the 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 Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution) (Amendment) Bill 1999.

Question that clauses 1 to 8 stand part of the Bill proposed, put and agreed to.

The Council then resumed.

Third Reading

The Secretary for Economic Services reported that the Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution) (Amendment) Bill 1999 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.

Motions

Proposed resolution under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance

The Secretary for Financial Services moved the following motion and addressed the Council:

Resolved that the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Fees) Regulation, made by the Chief Executive in Council on 9 March 1999, be approved. (The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Fees) Regulation is at Appendix I.)

Question on the motion proposed, put and agreed to.

Members' Bills

First Reading

Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital Incorporation (Amendment) Bill 1999

The Bill was 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

Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital Incorporation (Amendment) Bill 1999

Hon Eric LI moved the Second Reading and addressed the Council.

Question on the Second Reading proposed. The President stated that in accordance with Rule 54(4) of the Rules of Procedure, the debate was adjourned and the Bill was referred to the House Committee.

Members' Motions

Condemning NATO

Dr Hon LEONG Che-hung moved the following motion and addressed the Council:

That this Council strongly condemns NATO for bombing our Embassy in Yugoslavia.

Question on the motion proposed.

The Chief Secretary for Administration and 40 Members spoke on the motion.

Dr Hon LEONG Che-hung replied.

Question on the motion put.

Hon James TIEN claimed a division. The President then ordered the Council to divide under Rule 47(1) of the Rules of Procedure.

The President announced that among the Members returned by functional constituencies, 29 were present and 29 were in favour of the motion; while among the Members returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections and by the Election Committee, 26 were present and 25 were in favour of the motion. (Voting record in Appendix II.) Since the question was agreed by a majority of each of the two groups of Members present, she declared that the motion was carried.

Next Meeting

The President declared that the next meeting of the Council would be held on 19 May 1999 at 2:30 pm.

The Council was adjourned at 8:12 pm.

(Mrs Rita FAN) President
Council Chamber
Hong Kong