Lawmakers finally back Hong Kong government’s push for joint railway checkpoint with mainland
But new controversy arises as city’s justice minister fails to clarify doubts about what legal basis will be used to justify so-called co-location arrangement
Lawmakers finally gave a symbolic green light to the government on Wednesday to get moving on a politically contentious joint checkpoint on the Hong Kong side of the cross-border railway to Guangzhou, as filibustering opposition members exhausted all their delaying tactics.
However, while the Legislative Council passed the government’s non-binding motion backing the so-called “co-location” arrangement that would allow mainland Chinese officials immigration and customs jurisdiction over part of the West Kowloon terminus leased to them, new concerns arose after Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung remained vague about questions over what legal basis would be used for such a set-up.
After days of filibustering, the pan-democrats continued their campaign to drag out the debate on Wednesday, but Legco president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen overruled their tactics.
Eight amendments proposed by opposition lawmakers were vetoed, and the motion was passed 38-22.
Legco debate on joint rail checkpoint adjourned after meeting descends into chaos
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor had been counting on Legco’s non-binding endorsement, equating it with public support, to go ahead with her three-step plan: reach a formal agreement with mainland China on the co-location arrangement; secure the approval of China’s top legislative body; and enact local legislation to implement the system.