Bills in Progress gives you a quick summary of where various pieces of legislation are in moving to a vote, enactment – or abandonment. Consultations too.
Bills gazetted
(1st Reading will take or took place at Wednesday Council. Bill Committees not formed yet.)
Chinese Permanent Cemeteries (Amendment) Bill 2015
To allow married women be buried together with their paternal family members, replace reference to “his wife” with “the spouse”, and “relatives” eligible for being buried as a family expand to grandparents, great-grandparents, grandparents-in-law, great-grandparents-in-law as well as other family members.
Gazetted: 26th June
First reading: 8th July
Supplementary Appropriation (2014-15) Bill
Seeking to approve for supplementary appropration of $6,521,260,654.07 from the general revenue for the services of the Government in the 2014-15 financial year.
Gazetted: 3rd July
First reading: 8th July
Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Bill
To provide for a legal framework for regulating the use, operation, management and control of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.
Gazetted: 3rd July
First reading: 8th July
Promotion of Recycling and Proper Disposal (Product Container) (Amendment) Bill 2015
To provide for the collection of a recycling levy on the containers of certain products and to amend the Waste Disposal Ordinance to regulate the disposal of such containers.
Gazetted: 3rd July
First reading: 8th July
Passed 1st reading, Adjourned 2nd reading pending discussion
Property Management Services Bill
Mandatory licensing regime which sets a minimum qualification requirement for property management companies and property management practitioners.
Last Meeting: 14th meeting on 6th July
Next Meeting: TBA (Meeting on 22nd July cancelled)
Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014 – dubbed “The Article 23 of the Internet”
Addressing the copyright issues for the exemption of parody work.
Last Meeting: 21st meeting on 6th July
Next Meeting: 23rd September
Private Columbaria Bill
To establish a licensing regime to regulate private columbaria operation.
Last Meeting: 15th meeting on 6th July
Next Meeting: 20th July
Interception of Communications and Surveillance (Amendment) Bill 2015
To empower the Commissioner on Interception of Communications and Surveillance to examine, inspect and listen to protected products.
Last Meeting: 8th meeting on 14th June
Next Meeting: TBA
Human Reproductive Technology (Amendment) Bill 2015
Banning the publication or distribution of advertisements purporting to promote sex selection services through human reproductive technology procedures, whether or not the services are provided in Hong Kong.
Last Meeting: 6th meeting on 6th July
Next Meeting: TBA
Promotion of Recycling and Proper Disposal (Electrical Equipment and Electronic Equipment) (Amendment) Bill 2015
To include air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, television sets, computers, printers, scanners and monitors as regulated electrical equipments under the polluter pays principle. Manufacturers and importers of regulated electrical equipments will be required to register and pay a recycling fee.
Last Meeting: 4th meeting on 22nd June
Next Meeting: 20th July
Peak Tramway (Amendment) Bill 2015
To grant the Peak Tramways Company Limited a 10-year operating right commencing 2016.
Last Meeting: 14th meeting on 16th June
Next Meeting: TBA
Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill 2015
To implement new arrangements to replace the existing abscondee regime which CFA has ruled unconstitutional previously.
Last Meeting: 2nd meeting on 7th July
Next Meeting: TBA
Securities and Futures (Amendment) Bill 2015
To enable the Securities and Futures Commission to provide a narrow form of supervisory assistance to regulators outside Hong Kong upon request.
Last Meeting: 7th July
Next meeting: 15th September
Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2015
To enhance the tax appeal mechanism and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Board of Review (Inland Revenue Ordinance).
Last meeting: 7th July
Next meeting: TBA
Bills pending resumption of 2nd reading
(Bill Committees have finished scrutinising the bills and members will vote for 2nd reading, the amendments to the Bills and then third reading during the Council meeting.)
Kowloon Tong Church of the Chinese Christian and Missionary Alliance Incorporation (Amendment) Bill 2014
To allow the corporation to borrow or raise money with or without security.
Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2015
To remove some legal uncertainties relating to the opt-in mechanism and update the law with new parties joining the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards 1958, aka the New York Convention.
Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2015
To extend tax exemption to offshore private equity funds.
Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015
To carry out the concessionary revenue measures in the latest Budget, such as increasing the child allowance from $70,000 to $100,000 and reducing salaries tax, tax under personal assessment and profits tax for the year of assessment 2014/15 by 75%, subject to a ceiling of $20,000 per case.
Electronic Health Record Sharing System Bill
From suggestion to have “an eHR sharing system was put forward in the Healthcare Reform Consultation Document “Your Health, Your Life” published in March 2008.”
Insurance Companies (Amendment) Bill 2014
Establishment of Independent Insurance Authority (IIA) and licensing regime. HKSAT government: “Establishment of the IIA is the most important regulatory reform in the insurance sector in the past 30 years since the passage of the Insurance Companies Ordinance in 1983.”
Clearing and Settlement Systems (Amendment) Bill 2015
To establish a regulatory regime for stored value facilities and retail payment systems.
Electoral Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2015
Technical amendments concerning the electorate of the FCs, the name of some FCs, counting procedures and textual errors for the 2016 LegCo election.
Consultations underway
Public Consultation on Enactment of Apology Legislation
Closing date: 3rd August
Proposals for Enhancing the Use of Port Back-up Land in Kwai Tsing
Closing date: 15th August
Stage 1 Public Engagement for Urban Design Study for the Wan Chai North and North Point Harbourfront Areas
Closing date: 15th August
Cultural and Historical Tour of Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter: 19th & 26th July at 10am-pm, Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter
Eastern District Resident Workshop: 2nd Aug at 7:30-9:30pm, Causeway Bay Community Centre
Wan Chai District Resident Workshop: 4 Aug at 7:30-9:30pm, Wan Chai Activities Centre
Public Consulation on Proposed Security of Payment Legislation for the Construction Industry
Closing date: 31 August
Public Consultation Forum: 18th July at 3-5pm, Tai Hang Community Centre
Consultation Forum for Industry Stakeholders: 25th July at 3-5pm, Tai Hang Community Centre
Public Consultation Forum: 1st Aug at 3-5pm, Causeway Bay Community Centre
Stage 3 Community Engagement for Hung Shui Kiu New Development Area
Closing date: 16th September
Briefing to LegCo Panel on Development: 22nd July
Public Consultation on Disclosure of Teachers, Registration Information
Closing date: 7th September
Stage 1 Community Engagement for Topside Development at Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities Island of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
Closing date: 7th September
Community Forum: 23 Aug at 2-5pm, Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers Wong Cho Bau Secondary School
Future planned consultations
Consultation on the Introduction of a Mndatory Pre-market Safety Assessment Scheme for Genetically Modified (GM) Food
To regulate GM food by introducing a mandatory pre-market safety assessment scheme in Hong Kong.
Tentative schedule: 2nd half of 2015
Amendment to Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap. 132V)
To better protect health, enhance regulatory control and keep the local regulation abreast of the international standards, it is necessary to review and strengthen the regulation of metallic contaminants in food. It is therefore proposed to amend the current Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations, Cap 132V. A public consultation exercise on this issue will be conducted.
Tentative schedule: 2nd half of 2015
Consultation on the Business Impact Assessment (BIA) on the Implementation of the Revised Dangerous Goods (General) Regulation [DG(G)R] and Dangerous Goods (Packing, Marking & Labeling) Regulation
Tentative Schedule: Q2 to Q4 2015
Consultation on the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) for Hong Kong
To prepare for the first Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Hong Kong in accordance with the requirements of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Tentative Schedule: 2nd half of 2015
