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

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting tomorrow (November 20) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the proceedings of the committee of the whole Council on the Judicial Officers (Extension of Retirement Age) (Amendment) Bill 2019 will resume. 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 Electoral Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2019 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.
 
     The Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2019 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned. On Member’s Bill, the St. John’s College (Amendment) Bill 2019 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.

     On Government motions, the Chief Secretary for Administration will move two proposed resolutions under Article 73(7) of the Basic Law and section 7A of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance on appointment of judges. The motions are set out in Appendices 1 and 2.
 
     On Members’ motions, Mr Frankie Yick, Ms Alice Mak, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan, Ms Chan Hoi-yan, Mr Steven Ho and Mr Martin Liao will move separate proposed resolutions under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Pilotage (Dues) (Amendment) Order 2019, the Pilotage Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Notice 2019, the Shipping and Port Control (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2019, the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulation 2019, the Declaration of Geographical Constituencies (Legislative Council) Order 2019, the Electoral Affairs Commission (Electoral Procedure) (Legislative Council) (Amendment) Regulation 2019, the Electoral Affairs Commission (Electoral Procedure) (District Councils) (Amendment) Regulation 2019, the Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulation 2019, the Pesticides Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Notice 2019 and the Solicitor Advocates (Higher Rights of Audience Certificates) Rules (Commencement) Notice, laid on the table of the Council on 23 October 2019, to the meeting of December 11, 2019. The proposed resolutions are set out in Appendices 3-9 respectively.
 
     Mr Frankie Yick will also move two proposed resolutions under section 34(2) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to amend the Pilotage (Dues) (Amendment) Order 2019 and the Pilotage Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Notice 2019, laid on the table of the Council on October 23, 2019. The proposed resolutions are set out in Appendices 10 and 11.
 
     Meanwhile, Members will debate a motion under Article 73(9) of the Basic Law to form an independent investigation committee to investigate the charges against the Chief Executive for serious breach of law and/or dereliction of duty. The motion, jointly initiated by Mr Alvin Yeung, Mr ‍James To, Mr ‍Leung Yiu-chung, Prof Joseph Lee, Ms Claudia Mo, Mr Wu Chi-wai, Mr ‍Charles ‍Mok, Mr Chan Chi-chuen, Mr Kenneth‍ Leung, Dr Kwok Ka-ki, Mr ‍Dennis Kwok, Dr‍ Fernando Cheung, Dr ‍‍Helena Wong, Mr Ip Kin-yuen, Mr‍ Andrew Wan, Mr Chu Hoi-dick, Mr Lam Cheuk-ting, Mr Shiu ‍Ka‍-‍chun, Ms ‍Tanya ‍Chan, Mr Hui Chi-fung, Dr Cheng ‍Chung-tai, Mr Kwong ‍Chun-yu, Mr ‍Jeremy Tam, Mr ‍Gary ‍Fan and Mr Au Nok-hin (25 Members), is to be moved by Mr Alvin Yeung. The motion is set out in Appendix 12.
 
     Mr Wong Ting-kwong and Mr Wong Kwok-kin will move separate motions under Rule 49B(1) of the Rules of Procedure to relieve Ms Tanya Chan and Mr Shiu Ka-chun of their duties as Members of the Legislative Council. The motions are set out in Appendices 13 and 14 respectively.
 
     Dr Kwok Ka-ki and Ms Claudia Mo will move separate motions under Rule 49B(1A) of the Rules of Procedure to censure Mr Junius Ho. The motions are set out in Appendices 15 and 16 respectively. 
 
     Ms Yung Hoi-yan and Mr Junius Ho will also move separate motions under Rule 49B(1A) of the Rules of Procedure to censure Dr Cheng Chung-tai and Mr Lam Cheuk-ting. The motions are set out in Appendices 17 and 18 respectively.
 
     Mr Dennis Kwok, Mr Alvin Yeung, Dr Kwok Ka-ki and Dr Fernando Cheung will move separate motions under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law to summon persons concerned to produce papers and testify. The motions are set out in Appendices 19-23 respectively.
 
     Dr Kwok Ka-ki will also move a motion under Article 73(5) and (10) of the Basic Law to summon a person to produce papers and testify. The motion is set out in Appendix 24.
 
     Mr Au Nok-hin, Mr Andrew Wan, Mr Jeremy Tam, Ms Claudia Mo, Ms Tanya Chan, Dr Kwok Ka-ki, Mr Lam Cheuk-ting, Mr Kwong Chun-yu, Mr Gary Fan and Mr Chung Kwok-pan will move separate motions under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance to appoint select committees to conduct inquiries. The motions are set out in Appendices 25-36 respectively.
 
     Meanwhile, Mr Dennis Kwok will move a motion on no confidence in the Fifth Term Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as set out in Appendix 37. Ms Claudia Mo will move an amendment to Mr Dennis Kwok’s motion.
 
     Mr Ho Kai-ming will move a motion on ensuring children’s right to play for them to grow up happily. The motion is set out in Appendix 38. Mr Ip Kin-yuen, Dr Kwok Ka-ki, Dr Fernando Cheung, Dr Chiang Lai-wan and Mr Hui Chi-fung will move separate amendments to Mr Ho Kai-ming’s motion.
 
     During the meeting, 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). Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found on the LegCo Website.
 
     Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. They may reserve seats by calling 3919 3399 during office hours. Members of the public can also watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 19) announced that a trace amount of malachite green was found in a prepackaged grass carp sample. A follow-up is in progress. &… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
 
     The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC), Mr Justice Barnabas Fung Wah, today (November 19) urged electors to confirm their registration status through the election hotline 2891 1001 or the Online Voter Information Enquiry System (OVIES) (www.voterinfo.gov.hk) before casting their votes at the District Council Ordinary Election (DCOE) on Sunday (November 24) to ensure voting is smooth on the polling day.
 
     “According to law, only registered electors on the 2019 final registers of electors are eligible to vote on the polling day. In addition to finding information on voter registration, electors can check the name and address of the designated polling station, its location on the map and other polling information such as the polling date and polling hours on OVIES. Electors who have yet to receive the poll card and are unable to ascertain their registration particulars via OVIES should call the election hotline immediately to confirm whether they are a registered elector,” Mr Justice Fung said after visiting a mock polling station at Leighton Hill Community Hall this afternoon.
 
     He also reminded electors that they must carry the original of their Hong Kong identity card to the designated polling station as specified on their poll card to vote.
 
     “As there are 21 more District Council Constituency Areas in the DCOE this year compared with the DCOE in 2015, polling stations in some constituencies have changed. In addition, as some of the polling stations used in previous elections were not available due to various reasons, the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) therefore needed to identify other venues as polling stations. As such, some electors need to vote in polling stations different from those in previous elections. Electors are reminded to open and read carefully the mail from the REO, and to go to the designated polling station. Electors can only cast their votes at the polling station as specified on their poll card,” he said.

     On the other hand, four polling stations have been relocated after risk assessment. The affected polling stations are Sassoon Road Assembly Hall at Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, which is now replaced by Yue Kwong Road Sports Centre at 43 Yue Kwong Road, Aberdeen; Hong Kong Community College at Hung Hom, which is now replaced by Yaumati Kaifong Association School at 80 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon; the Education University of Hong Kong Jockey Club Primary School at Tai Po, which is now replaced by SKH Yuen Chen Maun Chen Primary School at Kwong Fuk Estate, Tai Po, New Territories; and John Fulton Centre, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, which is now replaced by Yan Oi Tong HK Toi Shan Association Elderly Centre at G/F, 1 Tsun King Road, Royal Ascot, Fo Tan, Sha Tin, New Territories. Affected electors are reminded to pay attention to the new poll card to be sent by the REO, indicating the change of polling station. The change may bring inconvenience to electors concerned, but Mr Justice Fung appealed for their understanding and encouraged them to exercise their civic rights and fulfil their civil responsibilities by casting their votes on the polling day so as to elect their District Council members.
 
     Mr Justice Fung added that, in view of the current situation in Hong Kong, the Crisis Management Committee will assist the EAC to closely monitor the situation on the polling day and consider implementing relevant measures as needed. Returning Officers will also enlarge the No Canvassing Zones of polling stations to offer greater buffers for electors to enter the polling stations. Security of polling stations will be enhanced and quick response teams of the Fire Services Department will be formed to tackle fires at polling stations quickly. The REO will also enhance support services.
 
     Mr Justice Fung pointed out that there is an angle cut at the upper left corner on the front of every ballot paper issued on polling day to assist electors with visual impairment to insert their ballot papers into Braille ballot paper templates correctly, so that they can mark the ballot papers by themselves. He clarified that the angle cut is not formed as a result of polling staff deliberately spoiling the ballot paper, as an online rumour has alleged.

     He stressed that the ballot is secret in public elections in Hong Kong, while other arrangements such as opening of the sealed packets of ballot papers, locking and sealing of the ballot boxes, issuing of ballot papers, putting ballot papers by electors into ballot boxes and counting of votes are transparent and monitored.
 
     Mr Justice Fung also reminded electors to follow proper voting procedures.

     “When voting, electors should use the chop provided to stamp a tick on the ballot paper in the circle next to the chosen candidate’s name, and fold the ballot paper inward in half once before putting it into the ballot box,” he said.
 
     The mock polling station at Leighton Hill Community Hall is among four mock polling stations open for electors to familiarise themselves with voting procedures for the DCOE. The other three are at the Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre, Tuen Mun Town Hall and Tai Po Community Centre.
 
     The mock polling stations will be open from noon to 8pm from tomorrow until Saturday (November 20 to 23).
 
     A hotline at 2967 0198 and a fax line at 2834 0924 have been set up to arrange appointments for group visits. None of the four mock polling stations will be able to accept pre-arranged group visits on November 23 (Saturday) owing to the need to prepare for the poll the next day.
 
     Mr Justice Fung reiterated the importance of safeguarding the secrecy of votes.
 
     “The ballot is secret. Electors should mark their ballot papers by themselves inside a voting compartment. An elector in need may ask the Presiding Officer or his deputy to mark the ballot paper on his behalf, in the presence of a polling staff member as a witness,” he said.
 
     “Electors must not use mobile phones or other electronic communication devices, take photographs or make video or audio recordings in a polling station. The distribution of election advertisements and display of propaganda material, such as any badge, emblem, clothing or head-dress, inside polling stations is also prohibited.
 
     “The District Council Ordinary Election held every four years is a very important platform for over 4.13 million registered electors in Hong Kong to exercise their civil rights to elect their representatives. We are devoting all efforts to prepare for the election and formulate contingency plans for possible incidents. However, most importantly, the full co-operation of all Hong Kong citizens is needed to safeguard Hong Kong’s good election culture so that the election can be held in a peaceful, fair, open, safe and orderly manner. We believe that all candidates and electors wish for the smooth proceeding of the election. The EAC calls for cessation of violence and urges all sectors of society to respect and be inclusive to people with different views, so that candidates can hold electioneering activities, electors can cast their votes safely on the polling day, polling staff can serve electors in a peaceful manner and the election can proceed smoothly,” Mr Justice Fung said.

     “We call upon electors to exercise their civil rights and fulfil their responsibilities to vote this Sunday and to elect their representatives.”
 
     A total of 1,090 candidates will run for 452 seats on the polling day. Over 610 ordinary polling stations and 23 dedicated polling stations will be open on the polling day for over 4.13 million registered electors to cast their votes.

     The polling hours for the ordinary polling stations and the three dedicated polling stations set up at police stations will be from 7.30am to 10.30pm. For the dedicated polling stations set up at penal institutions, for security reasons, the polling hours will be from 9am to 4pm.

      

     The “Belt and Road: Hong Kong-IN” Sharing Session on Financial Services and Business Growth jointly organised by the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB), the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) and the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association was held in Hong Kong today (November 19).

     The sharing session was comprised of two panels, both moderated by the Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Denis Yip. The discussions centred around how Hong Kong’s all-round professional financial and related services can support enterprises in respect of Belt and Road financing, challenges in opening up Belt and Road markets, as well as how Hong Kong professional services leverage the city’s unique advantages in providing solutions. Panel speakers shared their experiences and successful cases, and held exchanges with the participants. Business matching opportunities were also featured.

     About 200 representatives from state-owned, Mainland and Hong Kong enterprises as well as local professionals and chambers of commerce attended the sharing session. Among the participants were over 20 representatives of the SASAC and state-owned enterprises led by the Deputy Director-General of the Bureau of Property Right Management of the SASAC, Mr Xie Xiaobing. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, and Mr Xie spoke at the sharing session.

     Mr Yau highlighted that as an international financial centre, Hong Kong opens diverse financing channels with lower financing costs in support of Belt and Road infrastructure projects. Together with its ability to establish pioneer financial infrastructure that connects itself with the Mainland and the rest of the world, Hong Kong is well positioned to meet the diverse capital needs of the Belt and Road Initiative.

     He further pointed out that Hong Kong is striving to develop as the green finance centre of Asia, providing capital for sustainable Belt and Road projects as well as establishing firm foundations in green finance certification and regulation. Quite a number of banks in Hong Kong have set up dedicated green finance teams and the city’s related professionals are also ready to facilitate the development of a green Belt and Road.

     Today’s sharing session is the third of the same series jointly organised by the CEDB and the SASAC, following the sessions held in August 2018 and February of this year. Both sides found the sharing sessions useful in raising awareness of the Initiative and its related issues, and enhancing the SASAC’s understanding of Hong Kong’s professional services. Opportunities have also been taken to promote collaboration between enterprises of the two places, and to encourage those businesses to partner with professional services providers to go global as they explore Belt and Road prospects.

     Mr Yau stressed that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will continue to strengthen its work in taking forward the Belt and Road Initiative. Policy co-ordination with relevant Central authorities including the SASAC will be strengthened, and experience sharing and capacity building on policy areas related to the Initiative will be enhanced.

     Panel speakers at the sharing session today included the Deputy Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, Mr Wang Bing; the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Securities and Futures Commission, Ms Leung Fung-yee; the Director of Operation of Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency, Mr P C Chan; the Director and Executive Vice President of China Mobile International Limited, Mr Shen Weizhong; the Chairman of Federation of Hong Kong Industries, Dr Daniel Yip; the Vice President of China Life Insurance (Overseas) Company Limited, Mr Yu Deben; and the Executive Director and Vice President of Shanghai Industrial Investment (Holdings) Company Limited, Mr Xu Bo.

    

     Yau Kee Rubbertyre Limited was fined $45,000 at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (November 19) for violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance and the Occupational Safety and Health Regulation. The prosecutions were launched by the Labour Department.

     The case involved a fatal accident that occurred on February 25, 2019 in a vehicle repair workshop in Yuen Long. While a worker was inflating a container truck tyre, the tyre suddenly burst. The worker was hit by a blast of air and fell to the ground. He sustained a serious head injury and passed away on the same day. read more