Lawmakers disagree on whether their colleagues who work less and skip many meetings should receive equal pay. The debate comes because of a controversial plan to nearly double lawmakers' salaries.
There has been public outcry over the proposed rise.
Legislators propose paying themselves HK$141,000 a month, up from the current HK$73,150. Their pay is adjusted yearly for inflation.
Democratic Party lawmaker Cheung Man-kwong suggested a two-tier salary scale under which those who have other jobs would be paid less. 'There is strong public reaction against the proposed increase, as the public feels some lawmakers have an unsatisfactory performance record,' Cheung said at a Legco subcommittee meeting.
'Some do not show up before 3pm and have low attendance rates in Legco committees.'
But other legislators disagreed.