People Power lawmakers have vowed to drag out discussion of the Companies Bill until tomorrow or Friday to minimise the chance that the Legislative Council will be able to scrutinise plans for a government restructuring before its term ends next week.
They made the vow a day after the government agreed to push Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's planned shake-up of the administration to the bottom of its legislative agenda, with seven more government bills and 16 motions to be debated first. Lawmakers from across the political spectrum had asked for the chance to discuss bills on livelihood issues before the contentious revamp.
The shake-up would see the creation of new bureaus for culture and technology, and posts of deputy financial secretary and deputy chief secretary, but many lawmakers say no restructuring is needed.
People Power estimates that up to 161/4 hours will be left to debate the restructuring after all the bills and motions are discussed, if Legco debate proceeds at its normal pace.
'There could be more than a dozen hours left after finishing the seven bills and 16 resolutions ... leaving a chance for the restructuring plan to be passed,' People Power lawmaker Albert Chan Wai-yip said.
'We will keep deliberating the Companies Bill and the scrutiny probably can't be completed until Thursday or Friday morning.'