A little-known clause could be applied to maintain daily municipal services even after the two provisional councils are scrapped, it emerged yesterday.
The disclosure was the latest tactic by lawmakers to buy more time to fight Tung Chee-hwa's plan to scrap the two elected councils by the end of December.
Arguments erupted at the bills committee yesterday over whether legislators should rush to finish examining the Provision of Municipal Services (Reorganisation) Bill.
The bill seeks to transfer power for the delivery of municipal services to various government departments after the closure of the municipal councils.
Officials wanted to table the bill for second reading debate next month, warning that any delay could interrupt the provision of municipal services.
But legislators said they were not obliged to follow the timetable set by the Government.
The terms of the provisional municipal councillors will end on December 31.
