INDEPENDENT legislator Anna Wu Hung-yuk accused the Government of trying to 'scuttle' the use of private member's bills on the pretext of upholding an executive-led administration. 'It is particularly dangerous to use that expression 'executive-led administration' to frustrate public debate in the Legislative Council when the current government is not elected at all. 'To use the notion to veto the introduction of a bill - such as the human rights commission - for public debate in the Legislative Council is really weakening the process of democracy. 'If you respect democracy, you should allow public debate on significant subjects such as that.' Ms Wu, an appointed member, said private member's bills could help initiate a policy and rectify a problem and cure the inertia of the executive branch. She expressed disappointment at the Government's indifference to her proposed equal opportunities bill. 'Instead of thinking over my private member's bill, they have decided to come up with a much smaller version of protection in the area of gender discrimination. 'I don't think that the Government is used to being challenged in that way. They will try to scuttle other forms of private member's bills coming along the way.'
