The government is expected to overcome its first hurdle today on the funding of the HK$65.2 billion cross-border express - but only narrowly.
With legislators from the Democratic Party and Civic Party determined to vote against the project in today's public works subcommittee meeting, and with project supporter Abraham Razack likely to be absent because of illness, the government has secured 12 votes of 23 members, excluding Razack and subcommittee chairman Raymond Ho Chung-tai, who can only vote in a tie-breaker.
Nine lawmakers have said they will vote against the plan. Independent Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee and medical sector representative Leung Ka-lau would not disclose their intentions yesterday, but even if both vote against the project, the supporters will still lead by one.
Community groups were making last-ditch efforts yesterday to stop the subcommittee from approving the funding.
Academics from the Professional Commons group - which has called for the terminus to be moved from West Kowloon to Kam Sheung Road, saying it would save billions - continued to challenge the project's value and efficiency at a conference.
Meanwhile, another urban development concern group wrote to the Legislative Council yesterday, calling on three pro-government lawmakers to refrain from today's vote.
