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Lawmakers split on report wording

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The select committee investigating Leung Chun-ying's involvement in a 2001 design competition for the West Kowloon arts hub had to vote at least five times on the wording of its comment on his conduct, with views split along political lines.

The committee yesterday criticised Leung's actions as a judge in the contest after the chief executive-elect did not declare declare a company directorship while his colleagues helped an entrant.

The voting is revealed in the minutes of a closed-door meeting of the Legislative Council committee dated June 20. For example, a proposal to say Leung 'did not accord sufficient attention to completing his declaration [of interest] form' was included in the report with a note that the wording had been decided by a vote.

It was supported by five pan-democratic lawmakers and opposed by four Beijing loyalists, with Paul Tse Wai-chun, of the tourism sector, abstaining. A proposal to express 'dismay' at Leung's conduct was upheld as Tse joined the five pan-democrats to vote in favour of it.

Tse then left, leaving a proposal to say Leung had 'unshirkable responsibility' to pass on a 5-4 vote.

Tse, who plans to run for a geographical seat in the upcoming Legco election, said the committee should express a view and 'dismay' was an appropriate word.

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