Broad smiles are uncommon in the Legislative Council.
But pro-democracy lawmakers couldn't help but break out in grins when votes on a Democratic Party motion seeking to reject the chief executive's report on constitutional review were tied twice - a rare display of the opposition camp matching the pro-Tung crowd blow for blow.
Halfway through the constitutional affairs panel meeting in the late afternoon, Democrat chairman Yeung Sum took advantage of the Legco procedures to push a non-binding motion against the report without prior notice. Taken by surprise, government-friendly members exhausted all possible rules trying to block the motion, but to no avail.
The two camps voted 12 to 12 on whether it should be put on the agenda. Panel chairman Andrew Wong Wang-fat, a democrat, cast his vote in favour of the Democrats to give members a chance to continue the debate.
Employing the same tactics, pro-Beijing member Ma Fung-kwok (New Century Forum) moved a procedural motion to adjourn the first motion, saying it was already 6.45pm and members were not prepared for the discussion.
The vote was tied again, and this time Mr Wong voted in favour of the adjournment.
