Lawmakers from across the political spectrum were hoping for quick passage of the proposed new allowance for elderly people, as they got ready to begin a six-hour meeting on the issue on Friday afternoon.
The Legislative Council’s Finance Committee will hold the lengthy session to resume scrutiny of the government’s funding application for the monthly HK$2,200 allowance.
Before the meeting, at least three parties said they hoped a quick vote could be held. Discussion on the subject has been going on for weeks as legislators pressured the government to relax restrictions on applicants.
Radical pan-democrats want a means test scrapped altogether, while the Beijing-loyalist Federation of Trade Unions want it scrapped for those aged 70 and older.
Emily Lau Wai-hing, vice-chairwoman of the Democratic Party, said on Friday morning the party wanted the proposal put to a vote as soon as possible.
“We think that we should proceed with the voting because people in the community have told us quite clearly that we should go ahead and get it done,” she said.