THE Government is heading for a constitutional crisis as the Legislative Council prepares for the first time to condemn the Governor for refusing to back its demand to freeze the proposed rates increase.
Legislators said the motion, to be moved by United Democrats figurehead Szeto Wah in Wednesday's Legislative Council session, would mark a new era in the territory's constitutional development.
It would be the first time the council, united in its opposition to the rates increase announced in the Budget, has denounced the Governor. .
Mr Szeto will urge the council to ''reprove'' Chris Patten for ''acting against the will of the public'' by refusing to allow legislators to move an amendment freezing the rates increase.
The proposal has already secured at least 22 votes, guaranteeing it will be passed on Wednesday, since the Liberal Party will be absent from the debate and other legislators will abstain.
Mr Szeto said: ''I hope my motion on Wednesday, if passed, will teach Mr Patten that public opinion is not something which can be manipulated and then rejected.'' Government officials are known to be deeply concerned at the prospect of the council formally condemning Mr Patten. It emerged yesterday that Financial Secretary Sir Hamish Macleod will respond for the administration during the debate.
