FC chief seeks ‘rational behavior’ in rules debate

The head of the Finance Committee in Hong Kong’s legislature hopes lawmakers will stay rational and respectful in the upcoming deliberations on amendment proposals to the committee’s rules, which start today (Friday).

This is the second round of efforts pro-establishment legislators have made to amend rules. On Dec 15, the Legislative Council passed major changes to its Rules of Procedure which are expected to largely curb the opposition camp’s ability to use filibustering tactics.

In an interview with China Daily on Thursday, LegCo Finance Committee (FC) Chairman Chan Kin-por said he encountered stiff resistance from the opposition camp during the first round of amendment debates.

The FC will hold special meetings today and Saturday to establish procedures for moving motions to facilitate amending FC Procedures.

Michael Tien Puk-sun, who represents the pro-establishment camp, proposed that lawmakers who move a motion give 12 days’ notice; those who want to amend one should give five days’ notice.

However, the opposition camp made counter-proposals of 30-day and 60-day advance notice.

“The opposition has already said they will resist strongly and move to adjourn the meeting tomorrow (Friday),” Chan revealed.

“I hope they will not break discipline, confront me and attempt to besiege the chairman’s podium, because that might cause bodily harm,” Chan said.

Exercising the chairman’s authority, in October last year Chan streamlined FC meetings held consecutively on the same day as a single meeting — with short breaks in between.

Chan said the biggest advantage of making the change was that a lawmaker expelled from the meeting could not return for the whole day. In the past, the lawmaker could return for the next session. “That was ridiculous,” he said.

Meanwhile, another motion will be moved which seeks to empower the FC chairman not to allow adjournments if he feels the person proposing this wants to interfere with the meeting.

“It is more sensible to adjourn a funding item than adjourn the entire meeting,” he said.

Martin Liao Cheung-kong, convener of the pro-establishment lawmakers, has added a motion that funds approved by the Public Works Subcommittee and Establishment Committee need not be discussed further by the FC. This is in order not to duplicate discussions.

Moreover, the pro-establishment camp also hopes to shorten duration of the voting bell to avoid wasting time.

Following LegCo Rules of Procedure revision, the changes will automatically apply to FC meetings, Chan explained.

This means the duration will decrease from five minutes to one minute. This is not debatable; an issue will be put to vote immediately after the bell is rung for one minute.

Inside