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Chairman (in Cantonese):—All right. Let us now enter our votes on the computer system.
The question was put to the vote.
The motion was carried with 14 votes in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention.
(Record of votes on Mr. Stanley NG Wing-fai's motion is at annex VII.)
Chairman (in Cantonese):—The motion is carried with 14 votes in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention. The last motion for debate will be moved by Mr. Francis TANG Chi-ho.
(6) Mr. Francis TANG Chi-ho moved as follows:—
"Recently, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has published a 'Consultancy Study for Indoor Air Pollution in Offices and Public Places in Hong Kong', which reveals that air quality in local restaurants and cinemas do not comply with the existing regulation. In certain places, moreover, concentrations of carbon dioxide and suspended particulate etc., are above levels acceptable by international guidelines. In view of this, RESOLVED that the Council carry out the following studies: 1) to develop a comprehensive system for improving air quality in public places within the Council's jurisdiction; 2) to develop a set of three-tier indoor air quality indicators, which will tie in with EPD standards; 3) to amend the existing legislation, requiring public places such as karaoke establishments to provide enough ventilation before licenses are issued to them."
He said (in Cantonese): -I had prepared a speech for today, but I just want to put forth my motion with a simple explanation now.
In fact, my motion today is in response to the recent study results of the EPD on air quality in the Council's indoor venues. I want to focus on the air quality problems of some restaurants and cinema houses within the Council's jurisdiction. At the SCWC meeting last week, some Members raised questions on this point. I was hoping that many Members would be here to discuss this and come up with better options, but in the end, I can see that only Mr. Daniel To Boon-man and myself have registered to speak. I hope the discussion will come to some conclusion.
According to the EPD report, air quality control will be well handled by an inter-departmental approach. We agree to cooperate with the EPD and other relevant departments to classify this Council's venues into three tiers so as to check air quality in the Council's venues, in particular at restaurants and cinemas within the Council's jurisdiction. Survey findings reveal that toxins, bacteria and suspended particulate are involved and their level exceeds a certain standard. So, if we do not cooperate to tackle the problem, there will be adverse effects on the health of our next generation.
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