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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 13) 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.
 
     Meanwhile, Mr Kenneth Leung, Mr Wong Ting-kwong and Mr Lau Kwok-fan will move separate proposed resolutions under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Inland Revenue (Double Taxation Relief and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income) (Kingdom of Cambodia) Order, the Specification of Arrangements (The Mainland of China) (Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income) (Fifth Protocol) Order, the Prohibition on Face Covering Regulation and the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Public Pleasure Grounds) (Amendment of Fourth Schedule) (No. 2) Order 2019, laid on the table of the Council on October 16, 2019, to the meeting of December 4, 2019.  Mr Frankie Yick will also move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending 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, to the meeting of December 11, 2019.  The proposed resolutions are set out in Appendices 1-4 respectively.
 
     During the meeting, Mr Hui ‍Chi-fung, Mr Alvin Yeung, Mr Jeremy Tam, Dr ‍‍Kwok Ka-ki, Mr Dennis Kwok, Ms Tanya Chan, Ms Claudia Mo, Mr Chan Chi-chuen and Mr Gary Fan will move a total of 11 proposed resolutions under section ‍34(2) of ‍the ‍Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance in relation to the Prohibition on Face Covering Regulation.  Of the 11 proposed resolutions, 2 aim to repeal the Regulation (Appendices 5 and 6) and the remaining 9 aim to amend the Regulation (Appendices 7-15).  Members have indicated that they will withdraw the notices of the 11 proposed resolutions if Mr Wong’s proposed resolution to extend the period for amending the Regulation is passed.
 
     On Government motions, the Chief Secretary for Administration will move 2 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 16 and 17.
 
     On Members’ motions, 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 25 Members, namely Mr Yeung, Mr ‍James To, Mr ‍Leung Yiu-chung, Prof Joseph Lee, Ms‍ Mo, Mr Wu Chi-wai, Mr ‍Charles ‍M‍ok, Mr Chan, Mr‍ Kenneth‍ Leung, Dr Kwok, Mr ‍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 ‍Chan, Mr Hui, Dr ‍Cheng ‍Chung-tai, Mr Kwong Chun-yu, Mr ‍Tam, Mr ‍Fan and Mr ‍Au Nok-hin, is to be moved by Mr Yeung.  The motion is set out in Appendix 18.
 
     Dr Kwok and Ms 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 19 and 20 respectively.  Ms Yung Hoi-yan will also move a motion under Rule 49B(1A) of the Rules of Procedure to censure Dr Cheng Chung-tai.  The motion is set out in Appendix 21.
 
     Mr Kwok, Mr Yeung, Dr Kwok and Dr 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 22-26 respectively.
 
     Dr Kwok 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 27.
 
     Mr Au, Mr Wan, Mr Tam, Ms Mo, Ms Chan, Dr Kwok, Mr Lam, Mr Kwong, Mr 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 28-39 respectively.
 
     Meanwhile, Mr 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 40.  Ms Mo will move an amendment to Mr 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 41.  Mr Ip, Dr Kwok, Dr Cheung, Dr Chiang Lai-wan and Mr Hui 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, 6 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 Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, will depart for London tomorrow night (November 13). She will meet with key figures in the UK business and legal sectors to promote Hong Kong’s role as a dispute resolution and deal-making hub.

     Ms Cheng will deliver a speech entitled “The Search for Order within Chaos in the Evolution of ISDS” at the Alexander Lecture 2019 organised by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators on November 14.

     She will meet with key business leaders and senior legal practitioners to introduce the Department of Justice’s latest initiatives in strengthening Hong Kong as a dispute resolution and deal-making hub, and update them on the latest legal developments in Hong Kong. She will also call on the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Mr Liu Xiaoming.

     Ms Cheng will arrive in Hong Kong in the morning on November 18. read more

     The Department of Health (DH) today (November 12) appealed to the public not to buy or consume a slimming product named MS Natural Fiber as it was found to contain an undeclared and banned drug ingredient that might be dangerous to health.
    
     During the DH’s market surveillance, a sample of the above product was purchased via a social media network platform for analysis. Test results of the Government Laboratory revealed that the sample contained the banned drug ingredient sibutramine. The DH’s investigation is continuing.
             
     Sibutramine was once used as an appetite suppressant. Since November 2010, pharmaceutical products containing sibutramine have been banned in Hong Kong because of increased cardiovascular risk.
 
     The DH spokesman strongly urged members of the public not to buy products of unknown or doubtful composition, or to consume products from unknown sources. All registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of HK-XXXXX. The safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed.
 
     According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138), all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be legally sold in the market. Illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
 
     Members of the public who have purchased the above product should stop consuming it immediately. They should consult healthcare professionals for advice if feeling unwell after consumption.
 
     Weight control should be achieved through a balanced diet and appropriate exercise. The public should consult healthcare professionals before using any medication for weight control.
 
     The public may visit the website of the Drug Office of the DH for “Health messages on overweight problem and slimming products” and “Information on slimming products with undeclared Western drug ingredients“.
 
     People who have purchased the product may submit it to the Drug Office of the DH at Room 1856, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, during office hours for disposal.

  

     A sick 51-year-old male person in custody at Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution died in a public hospital yesterday (November 11).

     The person in custody suffered from duodenal ulcer and anemia. He required continuous medical care and follow-up at the institution hospital and a public hospital. On October 18, he was sent to a public hospital for further treatment and was later diagnosed with hepatic encephalopathy. During hospitalisation, his condition deteriorated and he was certified dead at 9.35pm yesterday.

     The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner’s Court.

     The person in custody was sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug in February 2016. read more

     Denmark’s Hotel Pro Forma – in collaboration with the Grammy award-winning Latvian Radio Choir – will stage the multimedia music theatre “NeoArctic” this Friday and Saturday (November 15 and 16), presenting a compelling journey to a bizarre new world shaped by man, featuring striking video images, poignant lyrics and heavenly sounds.  
 
     “NeoArctic”, directed by Kirsten Dehlholm, with lyrics by Sjón (who also writes for Björk), won the 2017 Reumert Prize for Best Performance Art Work in Denmark.
 
     With humans’ overwhelming nature and climate change descending into an eco-system emergency, what awaits our planet in the people-driven geological age of the Anthropocene? This highly original multimedia music theatre turns environmental problems such as climate change and soil erosion into mesmerising images. Meanwhile 12 members of the Latvian Radio Choir dressed in surreal costumes will journey to 12 landscapes, singing 12 songs with themes including plastic, respiration, temperature and more that speak to the challenges of our time. 
 
     Danish-based Hotel Pro Forma is an international production house and a meeting place for cross-disciplinary artistic work. The group is recognised for their genre-bending, innovative endeavours in opera, performing arts and installation, which transcend the boundaries between visual arts, text, music, theatre, design and architecture. Hotel Pro Forma works with themes of a universal nature in settings that can be conceptual, visual and musical, while applying the latest technology and creative ideas. They discuss and depict the future and the past, and last but not least, the challenges of our time.
 
     Founded in 1940, the Latvian Radio Choir is a unique, award-winning ensemble of professional singers with an extraordinary variety of repertoire ranging from early music to the most sophisticated scores of contemporary compositions. The choir has won the Grammy Award and the Great Music Award of Latvia, the country’s most prestigious national music honour. Touring the globe, the Choir has performed at many of the world’s most renowned concert halls and musical events, and has collaborated with celebrated guest conductors and orchestras.
 
     The multimedia music theatre “NeoArctic” is one of the programmes of the World Cultures Festival 2019 – The Nordics. It will be staged at 8pm on November 15 and 16 at the Kwai Tsing Theatre Auditorium. The programme will be performed in English with Chinese and English surtitles. Tickets priced at $180, $280, $380 and $480 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999.
 
     Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the World Cultures Festival 2019 – The Nordics is running from October 18 to November 17. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.worldfestival.gov.hk.