LEGCO PREVIEW ****
MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 1975
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL END ITS CURRENT SESSION ON A BUSY NOTE THIS WEDNESDAY WITH A FINAL DEBATE ON THE PROPOSED COMMODITY EXCHANGE AND DISCUSSIONS ON A VARIETY OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS TOPICS, INCLUDING THE CRIME SITUATION AND THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
AT LEAST TWO UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS - DR. THE HON. CHUNG SZE-YUEN AND THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN WILL SPEAK ON THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE PROPOSAL BEFORE COUNCIL VOTES ON THE MOTION.
THE MOTION, WHICH SEEKS COUNCIL'S APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE TO SET UP A COMMODITY EXCHANGE IN HONG KONG, WAS AMENDED AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ADDED A PROVISO STIPULATING THAT APPROVAL WOULD BE SUBJECT TO LEGISLATIVE MEASURES BEING DRAWN UP AND EFFECTIVELY ENFORCED SO AS TO MINIMISE SOCIAL HAZARDS TO THE ORDINARY CITIZEN.
DURING QUESTION TIME, UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL ASK ELEVEN QUESTIONS. THESE RELATE, AMONG OTHERS, TO EFFORTS FOR FINDING NEW HOMES FOR THE REMAINING VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG, THE STATE OF LAW AND ORDER, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND FLOW OF TRAFFIC, CHILDREN'S LIBRARIES, SCHOOL DROPOUTS, AND POSSIBLE ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONTROLLING THE PROFITS OF THE HONG KONG ELECTRIC COMPANY.
DURING THE MEETING, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, WILL MOVE TWO MOTIONS ONE SEEKING AUTHORITY TO RAISE FOR GENERAL REVENUE PURPOSES A LOAN OF NOT MORE THAN $250 MILLION UNDER THE LOANS (GOVERNMENT BONDS) ORDINANCE, AND THE OTHER SEEKING AUTHORITY TO BORROW FOR GENERAL REVENUE PURPOSES THE EQUIVALENT OF NOT MORE THAN US$50 MILLION UNDER THE LOANS ORDINANCE.
AMONG THE BILLS TO BE PASSED ARE THE OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS BILL AND THE PUBLIC OMNIBUS SERVICES BILL.
THE PUBLIC OMNIBUS BILL GIVES THE GOVERNMENT WIDE POWERS OVER KOWLOON MOTOR BUS AND THE CHINA MOTOR BUS OPERATIONS. WITH THE AIM OF IMPROVING BUS SERVICES IN HONG KONG.
DURING THE COMMITTEE STAGE, THE BILL WILL BE AMENDED IN PART TO PROVIDE FOR A CONTROL SCHEME OF THE BUS COMPANIES' PROFITS.
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