Showdown in Legco over changes to its rule book: What’s fuelling the continuing clash?
One side wants to curb filibustering while the other says changes will limit its ability to properly represent Hongkongers.
If passed, the amendments would be the most significant changes to the Rules of Procedure in decades.
Pro-establishment lawmakers moved the amendments on Thursday, and these could be endorsed by Friday evening at the earliest.
The opposition pro-democracy bloc has vowed to fight tooth and nail to block the changes, with supporters camping outside the Legco complex, and legislators making a last-ditch attempt to drag out the debate in the chamber.
Explained: how Hong Kong’s Legislative Council has evolved
Lawmaker Shiu Ka-chun, representing the social welfare sector, turned on a personal attack alarm during his speech on Thursday. It generated a loud beeping sound, and eventually forced a suspension of the meeting for almost 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, some 35 civil society groups and activists have banded together to protest the rule changes, which they said would weaken the legislature’s power to monitor the government. This came after thousands of people signed a petition launched by 29 academics objecting to the changes.