'Disrespectful' comments bring an appeal for Ambrose Lee to meet panel
Lawmakers scrutinising the covert surveillance bill yesterday called on Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong to attend one of their meetings instead of communicating through the media.
Bills Committee members took exception to Mr Lee's comments on radio on Monday that progress was 'unsatisfactory' and the legislature may have to hold a special session on August 2 to pass the bill.
'We have been meeting [Security Bureau officials] for many hours a week but they have not said anything directly to us about their plans,' Emily Lau Wai-hing of The Frontier said.
Democrat James To Kun-sun and Civic Party lawmaker Ronny Tong Ka-wah said Mr Lee had shown disrespect and should have attended yesterday's meeting to avoid souring the relationship between the executive and the legislature.
Mr Tong said: 'When two courts ruled the [covert surveillance regime] unconstitutional last year, they still did not present a bill to us but issued an executive order. Why are we scrutinising this bill, which has so many problems, at such a late stage?'
Permanent Secretary for Security Stanley Ying Yiu-hong said Mr Lee had merely been 'stating the facts' in response to questions.