Setback for officials as parties unite to stop move that would have brought in $6.5m a year

Legislators blocked rises in judiciary fees yesterday, cutting by more than 90 per cent expected government revenue of $6.5 million from increased charges.

The administration pushed through only five batches of proposed revisions including temporary liquor licences, licences relating to pawnbrokers, firearms and ammunition, and lawyers' registration fees.

The defeat came when Lau Chin-shek, of the Confederation of Trade Unions, won enough support to veto seven batches of subsidiary legislation, the bulk of which related to increases in fees and charges at various courts and tribunals.

The Democratic Party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB), the Liberal Party and some non-affiliated legislators united to back six of Mr Lau's 12 resolutions. Although the Democratic Party did not back the seventh resolution, it succeeded with the support of the Liberal Party and the DAB.

Mr Lau, calling for support, said: 'I can hardly imagine that there will not be a Budget surplus for this financial year.'

Mr Lau was sceptical of Financial Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's pledge last month that there would be no recurrence of 'crying wolf', a reference to deficit Budget fears followed by an announcement of a surplus.

Both Mr Lau and unionist Leung Yiu-chung warned that the proposed revisions by the Government would, if endorsed, set an example for public utility companies to follow.