Executive Council member Tsang Yok-sing drew on the biblical story of King Solomon and two mothers to defend legislators whose vote ensured the passage of the civil service pay-cut bill.
Mr Tsang, who sits on Exco in his capacity as chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, made comparisons between two biblical women who each claimed a baby was their own and the different positions taken by legislators on the bill.
The legislation was passed 32-26 yesterday after strong lobbying by Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa and his senior officials of independent legislators.
According to the Bible, King Solomon eventually resolved the dispute by saying he would have the baby sliced in half with one half offered to each mother. This was to determine who the child's real mother was, as she would relinquish her claim to the baby to ensure it survived.
During debate on the bill, Mr Tsang said legislators who opposed the bill were like the mother who would not give up her claim to the baby.
'The other [mother] had a pained look, just like legislator Eric Li Ka-cheung who was criticised for making a U-turn to support the bill,' he said, referring to five members of the Breakfast Group who eventually decided to back the legislation.
Mr Tsang warned that 'all would become losers' if the bill was not passed.
