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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 2) at 11am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building. During the meeting, Members will resume Second Reading debates on the Chief Executive Election (Amendment) Bill 2010 and the Legislative Council (Amendment) Bill 2010. 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 Second Reading debate on the Motor Vehicle Idling (Fixed Penalty) Bill will also be resumed. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will then go through the Committee Stage and be read the Third time.
In addition, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Amendment) Bill 2011 will be introduced into the Council for First and Second Readings. Second Reading debate on the bill will be adjourned.
On Members' motions, Dr Hon Philip Wong will move a motion on the Public Accounts Committee's Report on 'Administration of the Direct Subsidy Scheme and Governance and Administration of Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools', which states: "That this Council notes Chapter 1 of the Public Accounts Committee Report No. 55 on 'Administration of the Direct Subsidy Scheme and Governance and Administration of Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools'."
Members will debate another motion on promoting personal financial management education. The motion, to be moved by Hon Chan Kin-por, says: "That Hong Kong is an international financial and commercial centre, the atmosphere of investment and consumption in society is very strong, and people are facing a lot of financial management problems in their daily life; yet, on the other hand, there is a lack of comprehensive financial management education in Hong Kong, and whenever there is any turmoil in the financial market, some people may not have sufficient risk management knowledge to cope with it and are thus easily plunged into financial crises or even bankruptcy; some young people may have to default or are even unable to make repayment of their credit card debts due to over-spending; as a matter of fact, if the general public have good financial management habits, it will be of immense benefits to the whole society: for example, parents who have good financial management habits can help their families and children develop healthily, thus reducing the occurrence of family problems, and if working persons of means can as early as possible make good financial preparations before retirement, they will have appropriate protection upon their retirement, thus lessening their dependence on social resources in the future; in this connection, this Council urges the Government to adopt effective measures to promote personal financial management education, so as to educate people to acquire proper financial management skills and concepts; the relevant measures should include:
(a) to study making knowledge on comprehensive personal financial management, including investment, consumption, banking and insurance principles, etc., a formal subject in school, or expand the present section of personal financial management under subjects such as Liberal Studies into an independent and major module, so as to systematically educate students on basic financial management concepts and principles;
(b) in respect of the Investor Education Council which will be established soon, to introduce more comprehensive personal financial management elements to the original scope of investor education, with a view to instilling proper personal financial management values into the general public;
(c) to encourage parents to participate in parent-child financial management activities so that they can instill proper concepts on money into their children through the relevant skills;
(d) to encourage people of means to make good financial management plans for their retirement life as early as possible; and
(e) to organize regular publicity and educational activities to encourage young people to spend money sensibly, so as to avoid plunging into debt crises."
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 LegCo InfoFax Service (Tel: 2869 9568) or the LegCo website (www.legco.gov.hk). Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found in the LegCo website.
Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the LegCo 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 web broadcast system on the LegCo website.
Ends/Monday, February 28, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:01
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