LegCo Meeting on October 23 to Discuss Key Bills and Government Motions

LegCo to consider Rating (Amendment) Bill 2024

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (October 23) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Rating (Amendment) Bill 2024 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receive its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.

The Second Reading debate on the Shipping Legislation (Use of Fuels and Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2024 will also resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receive its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.

On Government motion, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury will move a proposed resolution under the Hotel Accommodation Tax Ordinance to resolve that, with effect from January 1, 2025, the Hotel Accommodation Tax Ordinance be amended. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 1.

On Members' motions, Mr Tony Tse will move a motion on actively developing land and optimizing land use to promote the development of the economy and industries. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Louis Loong, Mr Stanley Ng, Ms Chan Yuet-ming, Mr Lau Kwok-fan, Ms Carmen Kan and Mr Andrew Lam will move separate amendments to Mr Tse's motion.

Mr Shang Hailong will move a motion on following up on measures for new migrant talents to integrate into Hong Kong. The motion is set out in Appendix 3. Dr Johnny Ng and Mr Yim Kong will move separate amendments to Mr Shang's motion.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary for Administration will present "The Government Minute in response to the Report of the Public Accounts Committee No.82 of July 2024" and address the Council.

Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.

The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

Civil Engineering and Development Department highly concerned about worker at Tuen Mun Area 38 Fill Bank falling into sea

The Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Michael Fong, is highly concerned about the incident happened at the Tuen Mun Area 38 Fill Bank today (October 21) in which a subcontractor's worker fell into the sea and went missing. Mr Fong has tasked the project team to make every endeavour to facilitate the search and rescue operation of the Police and the Fire Services Department, seriously follow up on the cause of the incident and carry out a thorough review on safety measures of related work to prevent re-occurrence of similar incidents.

At around 12.30pm today, the worker concerned accidentally fell into the sea after mooring a construction vessel. After the incident, related work has been suspended immediately and the work area concerned has been fenced off. The contractor has reported the incident to the Labour Department and has contacted the family of the worker to provide assistance.