With filibuster, lawmakers play politics at others' expense

Radical lawmakers should stop their overdose of filibuster tactics, given that the harm they've done has already had a big impact on the government and people's livelihood. Before they launched their plan to delay the budget vote in the Legislative Council, the radicals had started filibustering to reject the government's request for HK$100 million to aid Sichuan earthquake victims, for fear the money would be siphoned off by corrupt officials.

That concern is understandable, given that President Xi Jinping has stressed the urgency of reining in official corruption, but it will take time to resolve. With Beijing now more aware of the need to strengthen control of the use of donated funds, a safeguard against the misuse of donations is likely to be established.

Besides, the majority of the HK$10 billion donated by Hong Kong five years ago to help victims of the massive Wenchuan quake, also in Sichuan, went to worthy causes such as education and health care. Seeing people still in desperate need of food, shelter and basic medical supplies, how can we delay the emergency funding merely because of concern about possible corruption? It is wrong to use filibustering for such a pressing issue.

The government's proposed budget is another bad choice for politicking. Radical lawmakers have little chance of achieving their goal and the potential harm of their act is too great.

This time, they are dissatisfied with the lack of a universal pension scheme in the budget. With 710 amendments to the government's proposed budget approved and 148 sessions of debate expected, the filibuster will result in a waste of time and money, not to mention the holding up of Legco procedures.

Given the unsatisfactory performance of the Mandatory Provident Fund and its problem of high fees and low returns, it is understandable that radical lawmakers want change. However, as there is no consensus on a universal pension fund, their action has little chance of success.