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LegCo Meeting to Discuss Key Bills and Motions on December 18

HK

LegCo Meeting to Discuss Key Bills and Motions on December 18
HK

HK

LegCo Meeting to Discuss Key Bills and Motions on December 18

2024-12-16 18:42 Last Updated At:18:58

LegCo to consider Construction Industry Security of Payment Bill

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

The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (December 18) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Construction Industry Security of Payment Bill 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 Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Deductions for Leased Premises Reinstatement and Allowances for Buildings and Structures) 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.

Meanwhile, the Stablecoins Bill, the Ozone Layer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the Private Columbaria (Amendment) Bill 2024 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debates on the Bills will be adjourned.

On Members' motions, Mr Chan Yung will move a motion on taking forward red tourism and the panda economy in Hong Kong. The motion is set out in Appendix 1. Mr Kenneth Leung, Mr Stanley Ng and Ms Chan Yuet-ming will move separate amendments to Mr Chan's motion.

Mr Jeffrey Lam will move a motion on actively responding to economic transformation and maintaining a favourable business environment. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Rock Chen and Dr Hoey Simon Lee will move separate amendments to Mr Lam's motion.

Mr Chan Kin-por will move a motion under Rule 49E(2) of the Rules of Procedure to take note of a report of the House Committee on consideration of the subsidiary legislation and other instruments. The motion is set out in Appendix 3.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary for Administration will present "The Government Minute in response to the Annual Report of The Ombudsman 2024" and address the Council.

In addition, the Chairman of the Panel on Development, Dr Lo Wai-kwok; the Chairman of the Panel on Housing, Mr Stanley Ng; the Chairman of the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services, Mr Martin Liao; the Chairman of the Panel on Public Service, Mr Dennis Leung; the Chairman of the Panel on Constitutional Affairs, Mr Lai Tung-kwok; the Chairman of the Panel on Economic Development, Mrs Regina Ip; the Chairman of the Panel on Manpower, Mr Lam Chun-sing; the Chairman of the Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting, Ms Elizabeth Quat; and the Chairman of the Panel on Transport, Dr Chan Han-pan, will present the Reports of the related Panels and address the Council respectively.

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.

SJ commences visit to Beijing

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, is on a three-day visit to Beijing, during which he will meet with officials from various ministries and authorities. He attended the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) Beijing Representative Office this afternoon (December 16).

The HKIAC and the Department of Justice have been working closely to jointly promote Hong Kong's international arbitration. The HKIAC is the sole appointing authority under the Arbitration Ordinance responsible for appointing arbitrators and determining the number of arbitrators when the parties to a dispute fail to reach an agreement. It is also one of the seven designated arbitral institutions under the Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings by the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr Lam said that the HKIAC is the first arbitral institution outside the Mainland to establish an office in Beijing, marking a new milestone. The establishment of the Representative Office enables Beijing to become more internationalised and diversified in the arbitration field and to better meet the needs of the country's development. He looks forward to seeing Beijing and Hong Kong continue to join hands to promote co-operation and exchanges in legal matters and dispute resolution. The Co-Chairperson of the HKIAC, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, Mr Victor Dawes, SC; and Vice-President of the Law Society of Hong Kong Mr Amirali Nasir also attended the opening ceremony today.

Mr Lam also met with officials from the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today for discussions and exchanges on the progress of the Department of Justice's major policy measures. Mr Lam had dinner with Vice-president of the Supreme People's Court Mr Mao Zhonghua yesterday evening (December 15).

Mr Lam will meet with the Minister of Justice, Ms He Rong, tomorrow (December 17) to brief her on the establishment of a dedicated platform for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) lawyers and a GBA legal information platform. They will also discuss the work of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and relevant training for foreign-related legal talent.

Mr Lam will conclude his visit to Beijing and return to Hong Kong on the same day.

SJ commences visit to Beijing  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ commences visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ commences visit to Beijing  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ commences visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ commences visit to Beijing  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SJ commences visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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