The Enactment of a Bill Electronic Books Bill For secondary schools or above First Reading Role : Bill: First Reading. CLERK TO Electronic Books Bill. Second Reading (Debate resumed) Role : Bill: Second Reading. Secretary for Education SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION President, I move the Second Reading of the Electronic Books Bill. The Bill seeks to require all primary and secondary school students to bring electronic books to schools, so that the weight of their school bags can be reduced considerably. In addition, paper consumption in terms of weight can be cut down significantly by tons, which will definitely contribute to the environment (The Secretary may come up with more points of his/her own) Therefore, I urge Members to support the Bill. 1
: We will debate on the Electronic Books Bill. Does any Member wish to speak? (Student acting as LegCo Member 1 Geographical Constituencies raises his/her hand) Hon (Name of student acting as LegCo Member 1 Geographical Constituencies) Member 1 Geographical Constituencies) Thank you, President. I speak in support of the Electronic Books Bill. We all understand that the production of textbooks requires a large amount of paper, and paper manufacturers have to cut down tons of trees in the forest to produce paper, disturbing seriously the ecological balance of the Earth and intensifying the global warming crisis. Moreover, the abandoned textbooks will certainly add to the burden on the territory's landfills (Student may express more views freely, or express the views collected from other students in his/her sub-group.) (Student acting as LegCo Member 2 Medical Functional Constituency raises his/her hand) : Hon (Name of student acting as LegCo Member 2 Medical Functional Constituency) Member 2 Medical Functional Constituency) Thank you, President. I oppose the Electronic Books Bill. Even though the weight of students school bags can be reduced considerably, the use of electronic books will cause other health problems to students. If students always have to use 2
computers or electronic books for reading or doing assignments in classes or at home for a long time, their eyes will feel very tired. Long-term use of electronic books will cause visual impairment to students and post a threat to their health (Student may express more views freely, or express the views collected from other students in his/her sub-group.) (Student acting as LegCo Member 3 Information Technology Functional Constituency raises his/her hand) : Hon (Name of student acting as LegCo Member 3 Information Technology Functional Constituency) Member 3 Information Technology Functional Constituency) Thank you, President. I speak in support of the Electronic Books Bill. In fact, to the children and teenagers in Hong Kong, the use of information technology (such as computers and electronic books) has become a part of their daily lives. Using electronic books for studies can help students enhance their skills in applying information technology. In addition to books and classes, surfing the Internet or using the multi-media learning aids installed in their electronic books are also efficient means by which students can acquire more up-to-date information (Student may express more views freely, or express the views collected from other students in his/her sub-group.) (Student acting as LegCo Member 4 Commercial Functional Constituency raises his/her hand) 3
Member 4 Commercial Functional Constituency) : Hon (Name of student acting as LegCo Member 4 Commercial Functional Constituency) Thank you, President. I oppose the Electronic Books Bill. If all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong do not use traditional textbooks, it will seriously affect the livelihood of local textbook publishers. I am afraid that many book publishers in Hong Kong will have to close down, thus rendering their employees jobless. As a result, the local unemployment rate will be pushed up sharply, creating another financial burden for the Hong Kong Government... (Student may express more views freely, or express the views collected from other students in his/her sub-group.) (Student acting as LegCo Member 5 Education Functional Constituency raises his/her hand) : Hon (Name of student acting as LegCo Member 5 Education Functional Constituency) Member 5 Education Functional Constituency) Thank you, President. I oppose the Electronic Books Bill. I am concerned that rather than taking any notes during lessons, students will just rely on their teachers to send the notes to them via email after classes. As such, some students may not focus on the lessons given by their teachers. An even worse scenario is that some students may surf other websites on the Internet, play on-line games or use on-line chat rooms during lessons, thereby making it very difficult for teachers to give lessons effectively...(student may express more views freely, or express the views collected from other students in his/her sub-group.) 4
: Does any other Member wish to speak? (The rest of the students acting as LegCo Members may raise their hands to indicate their wish to speak. Students should wait until the President calls his/her name to stand up and speak.) Hon (Name of student acting as LegCo Member) (One by one, the President calls upon the students who have raised their hands to indicate their wish to speak to stand up and speak.) HON Member) (LegCo (Student to express his/her opinion) : (All students who have raised their hands to indicate their wish to speak have finished delivering their speeches) Does any other Member wish to speak? (If no Member indicates a wish to speak.) I now put the question to you and that is: That the Electronic Books Bill be read the Second time. Will those in favour please raise their hands? Those against please raise their hands. 5
(If over half of the Members present vote in favour of the Bill) PRESIDENT OF : I think the question is agreed by a majority of the Members present. I declare the motion passed. (If half or less than half of the Members present vote in favour of the Bill) PRESIDENT OF : I think the question is not agreed by a majority of the Members present. I declare the motion negatived. CLERK TO Electronic Bill. Books Committee Stage Role CHAIRMAN CLERK : Committee Stage. Council is now in Committee. I now propose the question to you and that is: That the following clause stands part of the Electronic Books Bill. Clause 3 CHAIRMAN : Hon (Name of student acting as LegCo Member) HON Member) (LegCo : Chairman, I now move a Committee Stage amendment to clause 3 of the Bill, which seeks to cap the number of hours per day a student may spend on using electronic books... The rationale behind my proposed amendment is that, I hope colleagues will support my proposed amendment. (Student may develop his/her own content for the clause, such as capping the number of hours per day a student may spend on electronic textbooks.) 6
CHAIRMAN : Does any Member wish to speak? (The rest of the students acting as LegCo Members may raise their hands to indicate their wish to speak, they may speak for or against the amendment.) Hon (Name of student acting as LegCo Member) (One by one, the President calls upon the students who have raised their hands to indicate their wish to speak to stand up and speak.) HON Member) (LegCo (Student to express his/her opinion) CHAIRMAN : (All students who have raised their hands to indicate their wish to speak have finished delivering their speeches) Secretary for Education. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION CHAIRMAN (Student who acts as the Secretary for Education expresses his/her opinion, and responds to the views raised during the Committee Stage) : I now put the question to you and that is: (depends on whether the proposed amendment is passed) That the amendment moved by the Honourable (LegCo Member) be passed / clause 3 stands part of the Bill. Will those in favour please raise their hands? Those against please raise their hands. 7
I think the question is / is not* agreed by a majority of the Members present. (* Please select as appropriate.) I declare the motion passed / negatived *. (* Please select as appropriate.) Third Reading Role SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION : Council now resumes. Third Reading - Electronic Books Bill. Secretary for Education. President. The Electronic Books Bill has passed through Committee with/without amendment (depends on whether the amendment has been passed or not). I move that this bill be read the third time. : I now propose the question to you and that is: That the Electronic Books Bill be read the third time. I now put the question to you as stated. Will those in favour please raise their hands? Those against please raise their hands. 8
(If over half of the Members present vote in favour of the Bill) PRESIDENT OF : I think the question is agreed by a majority of the Members present. I declare the motion passed. (If half or less than half of the Members present vote in favour of the Bill) PRESIDENT OF : I think the question is not agreed by a majority of the Members present. I declare the motion negatived. CLERK TO Electronic Bill. Books - End - 9