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Filibustering Hong Kong’s controversial rail checkpoint bill will not delay bill, pro-democracy lawmakers told

Legislative Council president Andrew Leung slaps 36-hour window on debate, and throws out 51 of 75 pan-dem suggestions for changes to controversial law

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If the co-location bill is passed a large area inside the West Kowloon terminus would come under the authority of mainland China. Photo: Sam Tsang
Sum Lok-kei

Pro-democracy lawmakers will not be able to affect the progress of a bill on a controversial joint checkpoint at Hong Kong’s express rail terminus, a pro-establishment camp leader has said.

The second reading of the co-location bill began at the Legislative Council on Wednesday, after president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen capped debate time at 36 hours – a move his opponents said set a “bad precedent”.
Leung had previously thrown out 51 of 75 amendments submitted by the pan-democrats, saying they went beyond the scope of the bill.
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Lawmaker Tanya Chan tried to delay proceedings, launching a motion to adjourn the meeting. Photo: K.Y. Cheng
Lawmaker Tanya Chan tried to delay proceedings, launching a motion to adjourn the meeting. Photo: K.Y. Cheng
New People’s Party chairwoman Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who also chaired the co-location bill’s committee, kicked off the second reading at about 2.20pm.
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If passed, the bill would allow mainland Chinese authorities to enforce mainland laws within a 105,000 square metre area of the West Kowloon terminus.

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