Legislator accuses the government of clumsy timing, with many pieces of proposed legislation submitted towards the end of the session
The Legislative Council has been less productive in scrutinising bills this year because of 'clumsy' officials and political parties' lack of clear consensus to push for initiatives, say observers.
As the first session of the new Legco's four-year term draws to a close this month, only 20 bills have been passed, compared to 37 in the 2003-2004 legislative session.
Even if three remaining bills are passed this afternoon at the final weekly meeting for this legislative session, the total figure is still dramatically less than last year.
In 2000-2001, the first year of the previous Legco term, 29 bills were passed and 18 subcommittees formed on subsidiary legislation.
Liberal Party legislator Miriam Lau Kin-yee, chairwoman of the Legco House Committee, denied the productivity of legislators had dropped, saying officials should take the blame.
