Pro-democracy bloc suffers another blow as Hong Kong Legco approves more rule book changes for Finance Committee
Committee chairman Chan Kin-por says amendments are ‘reasonable’ and will ensure smoother scrutiny of spending proposals
Hong Kong’s Legislative Council on Thursday approved controversial rule book changes raised by the pro-establishment camp that would further restrict filibustering in the Finance Committee and pave the way for smoother passage of government spending proposals.
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“The [Finance Committee] is not an arena for political shows, but a place to get pragmatic work done for the good of the citizens,” Chan said, after the motions of the rule changes were passed with the support of pro-establishment lawmakers.
The [Finance Committee] is not an arena for political shows
Some 20 amendments raised by the pro-democracy bloc were vetoed.
The camp’s members said the approved changes undermined the dignity of Legco.
“The pro-establishment camp is too short-sighted in focusing on efficiency,” Civic Party chairman Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu said. “The dignity of Legco and the whole system matters much more.”
The new rule places a limit of one non-binding motion proposed by each lawmaker on an agenda item. Earlier procedures were stalled because each motion could be put to a vote and subjected to debate if passed.