A move by major government allies to scrap funding for the May 16 Legco by-elections was rejected by a majority vote in the legislature yesterday, despite strong criticism against the organisers of a 'de facto referendum' for universal suffrage.
This removal of the last hurdle for the by-elections triggered by the resignations of three lawmakers from the League of Social Democrats and two from the Civic Party, came after a survey found people's dissatisfaction with Legco's performance surged to a five-year high.
After an almost five-hour debate to remove HK$147 million from the government's budget, the resolution, moved by Federation of Trade Unions legislator Wong Kwok-hing, was rejected with only the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and two independents backing the union.
'They are turning the by-election into a referendum [for universal suffrage] ...Why is the government forcing Legco the pass the funding?' asked Wong, who condemned the Civic Party and the league for having a political agenda, saying it contravened the Basic Law.
Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung warned that the two parties would pay the price for exploiting what he called legal loophole.
'I believe the Civic Party and the league clearly understand they are utilising a legal loophole. The people can see,' he said.
