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Attempt to suspend bills fails

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Moves to suspend seven pre-handover laws failed yesterday when provisional legislators sought more time to study the bills, which mainly target workers' rights.

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In a surprise move, the Government tabled a bill suspending the laws and asked legislators to enact it in one sitting today.

But they voted 15-11 to reject the move, deciding instead to give the bill its first and second readings today before establishing a committee to study laws passed by the pre-handover Legislative Council in its final sitting.

Democrats and unionists said the Government's move was aimed at helping big business.

Secretary for Education and Manpower Joseph Wong Wing-ping said the laws represented a major departure from government policy and could ultimately hurt the community.

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'To avoid confusion and more problems, it would be better to suspend the laws immediately,' he said, stressing there would be consultation before a final ruling in September.

Unionist Executive Councillor Tam Yiu-chung said suspending the laws would give the Government and unions time to examine their impact. 'The move is extraordinary but . . . as a responsible government we have to make the decision.' But independent provisional legislator Eric Li Ka-cheung said it was wrong for the body's 27 new members to decide on the bills so quickly.

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