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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (May 2) at 11 am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on conserving the Queen's Pier.
The motion, to be moved by Hon Alan LEONG Kah-kit, states: "That, given the grave concerns expressed by various sectors of the community about the preservation of the Queen's Pier in Central, and for the effective conservation of the Queen's Pier, this Council urges the Government to immediately adopt the Principles for the Conservation of Heritage Sites in China approved by the Central People's Government in 2000 and to undertake to adopt "conservation in-situ, minimal interference, preservation of the original condition and protection of the heritage environment" as the principles for formulating and expeditiously implementing the most effective proposal for preserving the Queen's Pier in-situ, including proper adjustments to the current works projects and designs of future projects to avoid damaging the existing structure of the Queen's Pier, so as to minimize the impact of works projects on the present site of the Queen's Pier."
Hon Mrs Selina CHOW and Hon CHEUNG Hok-ming will move separate amendments to Hon Alan LEONG Kah-kit's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on increasing the number of local university places. The motion, to be proposed by Hon CHEUNG Man-kwong, says: "That this Council urges the Government to increase the annual quota of 14,500 publicly-funded university places so as to provide more opportunities for local young people in the appropriate age group to attend universities, and to open up more channels for outstanding graduates of sub-degree courses to pursue further studies, in order to cater for the needs of the local community and education development."
Hon Andrew LEUNG Kwan-yuen will move an amendment to Hon CHEUNG Man-kwong's motion.
The Chief Secretary for Administration will move a motion under the Legal Aid Ordinance to resolve that section 5(1) and section 5A(b)of the Legal Aid Ordinance be amended.
On bills, Members will resume Second Reading Debate on Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Bill and Employment (Amendment) Bill 2006. If the bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Readings, they will then go through the Committee Stage and be read the third time.
The Revenue Bill 2007 and the Revenue (No.2) Bill 2007 will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Debates on the bills will be adjourned.
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 (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, April 30, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:46
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