XN000022-1994-12-14 — Page 80

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Motion on Preliminary Working Committee withdrawn

A motion proposed by the Hon Szeto Wah criticising the establishment of the Preliminary Working Committee and its Political Sub-group's proposal to set up a provisional legislature was withdrawn by Mr Szeto himself at the Legislative Council sitting today (Wednesday) in protest against the Administration's withdrawal of the Employment (Amendment) Bill 1994 after it had passed Committee Stage with amendments by the Hon Lau Chin-shek.

A motion moved by Dr the Hon LAM Kui-chun to urge the Government to increase the monthly standard rate of payment for single elderly persons under the Comprehensive Social Assistance Scheme to $2,300 per month and to increase correspondingly the standard rates for other categories of elderly people under the Scheme was passed.

The Hon Fred Li had withdrawn his amendment to Dr Lam's motion, again in protest against the Administration's withdrawal of the Employment (Amendment) Bill

1994.

The Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, spoke on the motion on behalf of the Administration.

A total of five motions were moved by Members to amend the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance in respect of the Boundary and Election Commission (Registration of Electors) (Functional Constituencies and Election Committee Constituency) Regulation, the Boundary and Election Commission (Registration of Electors) (Geographical Constituencies) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulation 1994, the Commodities Trading Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order 1994 and the Maximum Scale of Election Expenses (Municipal Councils) Order 1994.

The motion concerning the Commodities Trading Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order and one of the two motions concerning the Maximum Scale of Election Expenses (Municipal Councils) Order were voted down, while the remaining three motions were passed.

A motion moved by the Secretary for Health and Welfare on the Radiation Ordinance was also passed.

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