LC Paper No. CB(3) 1457/98-99

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

MINUTES
No. 30
___________
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 24 March 1999 and Thursday 25 March 1999 at 2:30 pm respectively
___________

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 (absent on 24.3.1999)
The Hon Edward HO Sing-tin, JP
The Hon Albert HO Chun-yan (absent on 25.3.1999)
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 (absent on 25.3.1999)
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 (absent on 25.3.1999)
The Hon CHAN Wing-chan
The Hon CHAN Kam-lam
Dr the Hon LEONG Che-hung, JP (absent on 25.3.1999)
The Hon Mrs Sophie LEUNG LAU Yau-fun, JP (absent on 25.3.1999)
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 (absent on 25.3.1999)
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 (absent on 25.3.1999)
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 (absent on 24.3.1999)
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:

On 24.3.1999 and 25.3.1999

The Honourable Mrs Anson CHAN, JP
The Chief Secretary for Administration

The Honourable Donald TSANG Yam-kuen, JP
The Financial Secretary

The Honourable Elsie LEUNG Oi-sie, JP
The Secretary for Justice

Mr Michael SUEN Ming-yeung, JP
Secretary for Constitutional Affairs

Mr CHAU Tak-hay, JP
Secretary for Trade and Industry

Mr Gordon SIU Kwing-chue, JP
Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands

Mr Nicholas NG Wing-fui, JP
Secretary for Transport

Mr Dominic WONG Shing-wah, JP
Secretary for Housing

Mrs Katherine FOK LO Shiu-ching, JP
Secretary for Health and Welfare

Mr Rafael HUI Si-yan, GBS, JP
Secretary for Financial Services

Mr KWONG Ki-chi, GBS, JP
Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting

Miss Denise YUE Chung-yee, JP
Secretary for the Treasury

Mr LAM Woon-kwong, JP
Secretary for the Civil Service

Mr David LAN Hong-tsung, JP
Secretary for Home Affairs

Dr Edgar CHENG Wai-kin, JP
Head, Central Policy Unit

On 24.3.1999 only

Mr Stephen IP Shu-kwan, JP
Secretary for Economic Services

Mr Benedict KWONG Hon-sang, JP
Secretary for Works

Mr Philip CHOK Kin-fun, JP
Secretary for Education and Manpower

On 25.3.1999 only

Mr Joseph WONG Wing-ping, GBS, JP
Secretary for Education and Manpower

Clerks in attendance:

On 24.3.1999 and 25.3.1999

Mr Ricky FUNG Choi-cheung, JP,
Secretary General

On 24.3.1999

Mrs Justina LAM CHENG Bo-ling,
Assistant Secretary General (2)

Mr Ray CHAN Yum-mou,
Assistant Secretary General (3)

On 25.3.1999

Mr LAW Kam-sang, JP,
Deputy Secretary General

Ms Pauline NG Man-wah,
Assistant Secretary General (1) 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.Housing Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule) Order 199963/99
2.Human Organ Transplant (Amendment) Regulation 199966/99
3.Employees Retraining Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) (No.2) Notice 199967/99
4.Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (80 of 1995) (Commencement) Notice 199968/99
5.Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (General) Regulation (Cap. 485 sub. leg.) (Commencement) Notice 199969/99
6.Provident Fund Schemes Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 1998 (4 of 1998) (Commencement) Notice 199970/99
7.Port Control (Cargo Working Areas) (Amendment) Regulation 199971/99
8.Occupational Retirement Schemes (Notices of Changes) Rules (L.N. 360 of 1998) (Commencement) Notice 199972/99
9.Occupational Retirement Schemes (Authentication and Certification of Documents) (Amendment) Rules 1998 (L.N. 361 of 1998) (Commencement) Notice 199973/99
10.Occupational Retirement Schemes (Fees) (Amendment) Rules 1998 (L.N. 362 of 1998) (Commencement) Notice 199974/99
11.Business Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 1999 (3 of 1999) (Commencement) Notice 199975/99
12.District Councils Ordinance (8 of 1999) (Commencement) Notice 199977/99

Sessional Papers

No.107-Occupational Safety and Health Council
Annual Report 1997-98
No.108-Hospital Authority
Annual Report 1997-1998 with Statement of Accounts and Auditors' Report
No.109-Report and Statement of Accounts of the Samaritan Fund together with the Director of Audit's Report for the year ended 31 March 1998
No.110-Aids Trust Fund 1997-98
Annual Accounts together with the Director of Audit's Report

Questions

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

Bill

Second Reading

Appropriation Bill 1999

The debate on the Second Reading which had been moved on 3 March 1999 resumed.

In accordance with Rule 67(2) of the Rules of Procedure, the Council resumed the debate on the Appropriation Bill 1999.

18 Members spoke on the motion.

At 5:50 pm, the President's Deputy took the chair during the temporary absence of the President.

Another five Members spoke on the motion.

At 6:47 pm, the President resumed the chair.

Six further Members spoke on the motion.

The President suspended the meeting at 8:13 pm.

* * * * * *

The Council resumed at 2:30 pm on 25 March 1999 and continued to debate the second reading of the Appropriation Bill 1999.

18 Members spoke on the motion.

At 5:55 pm, the President's Deputy took the chair during the temporary absence of the President.

Another five Members spoke on the motion.

At 6:54 pm, the President resumed the chair.

Seven further Members spoke on the motion.

Dr Hon YEUNG Sum moved that the debate on the motion be adjourned to the meeting to be held on 31 March 1999.

Question on the motion proposed, put and agreed to.

Next meeting

The President declared that the next meeting of the Council would be held on 31 March 1999 at 2:30 pm.

The Council was adjourned at 8:19 pm.

(Mrs Rita FAN)
President

Council Chamber
Hong Kong