In unprecedented move, May 7 deadline set for Legco bills committee to scrutinise controversial joint checkpoint plan
Timetable laid out by panel chairwoman Regina Ip after she received letter from transport minister Frank Chan
In an unprecedented move, the chairwoman of the bills committee at Hong Kong’s legislature has set a deadline for lawmakers to scrutinise a controversial joint checkpoint plan for a cross-border rail link, aiming to close the discussion by May 7.
The Friday announcement by Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee came after she was reminded by the government – through a letter sent to her the night before – that the panel should complete its task by mid-May to ensure that train services could be commissioned in September as scheduled.
“The government is worried about the progress of the scrutiny,” the letter penned by transport minister Frank Chan Fan read, citing Legislative Council house rules that state “the scrutiny of a bill should be conducted quickly and, whenever possible, be completed within three months of its commencement”.
“The government absolutely respects Legco and hopes the lawmakers would scrutinise the bill with practical and rational attitudes according to the overall interests of Hong Kong,” Chan wrote.
Speaking in Legco on Friday, Chan denied having any intention to exert pressure on lawmakers, saying the legislation was on a very tight schedule as more time had to be reserved for discussion by the full council.