Public opinion comes second for Legco chief

Legislative Council President Tsang Yok-sing admits his decision to halt a marathon Legislative Council debate on a by-election law to stop a filibuster will hurt his popularity with the public, but says personal political consequences were not his main concern.

Tsang ended debate on the bill, which will ban lawmakers who resign from running in any by-election for the next six months, in the early hours of last Thursday. He did so by citing Article 92 of Legco's rules of procedure, which allow the president to decide on matters not covered in the rules. He is expected to face a confidence motion next month.

Asked by reporters what effect his decision would have on his prospects in September's Legco election, Tsang said: 'The current public opinion of me is worrying. Drops in popularity are also expected. But I cannot make such political considerations when I make rulings.'

Speaking a day after he set out his reasons for the ruling in writing, Tsang admitted again that he could have handled the matter better by ensuring there was a consensus among lawmakers that the debate should stop.

'If I could have confirmed a consensus among lawmakers, again I would have avoided misunderstanding,' Tsang said. 'But I always hold the view that lawmakers do have some restrictions in speaking in bill debates.'

Pan-democrats repeated their criticism of Tsang's decision and said they were never given an opportunity to oppose the winding up of the debate.

Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan said the party's lawmakers were angry at Tsang's claim that he decided to halt the debate only after 'no objection was heard' in a private meeting with 30 lawmakers from across the political spectrum.