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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (March 14) at 11 am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on legislating against the use of artificial trans fats in food production.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Albert Jinghan Cheng, states: "That, as cardiovascular disease is the second leading cause of deaths in Hong Kong, and medical research also reveals that consumption of food containing trans fats will increase the risk of contracting coronary heart disease, and given that some countries such as Denmark have legislated as early as 2003 to prescribe the permissible maximum level of trans fats in food, the use of artificial trans fats in food production in restaurants will also be gradually banned in places such as New York, Chicago and Massachusetts to safeguard public health, this Council urges the Government to follow the practice of these places to expeditiously legislate against the use of artificial trans fats in food production in local restaurants, to prescribe the permissible maximum level of trans fats for all imported and locally produced food, and to require the trans fats contents in food to be listed on the package labels for identification by consumers."
Hon Fred Li and Hon Vincent Fang Kang will move separate amendments to Hon Albert Jinghan Cheng's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on the Air Pollution Control (Volatile Organic Compounds) Regulation. The motion, to be proposed by Hon Audrey Eu, says: "That this Council notes the Air Pollution Control (Volatile Organic Compounds) Regulation which was published in the Gazette as Legal Notice No. 20 of 2007 and laid on the table of the Legislative Council on February 28, 2007."
During the meeting, Members will also ask the Administration 20 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the Legislative Council InfoFax Service (Tel: 2869 9568) or the Legislative Council web site (http://www.legco.gov.hk).
Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Legislative Council Chamber. They may reserve seats by calling 2869 9399 during office hours. Seats will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Members of the public can also listen to the meeting via the audio webcast system on the Legislative Council homepage.
Ends/Monday, March 12, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:55
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