Hong Kong’s pro-democracy lawmakers can win back public support by being practical instead of petty

The “co-location bill” to set up a joint checkpoint with mainland China at the Kowloon high-speed rail terminus is entirely based on the resolution of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee and lacks legal basis. The bill was passed on June 14 by a Legislative Council dominated by the pro-establishment lawmakers. Council chairman Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, who presided over the meetings in an improper and unfair manner, has been condemned by the pan-democrats.

Last week, 24 pro-democracy legislators, as well as Cheng Chung-tai and Pierre Chan Pui-yin, jointly moved a motion of no confidence against Leung. However, the motion was voted down by the pro-establishment camp at the House Committee meeting.

A judicial review against the legality of the bill is now the only option left.

Meanwhile, the pro-establishment camp has been growing aggressive. The chairman of the Committee on the Rules of Procedure, Paul Tse Wai-chun, recently initiated moves to further tighten the house rules after the first round in 2017. He suggested banning expelled lawmakers from meetings for the rest of the Legco session.

This will end all the pan-democrats’ disobedient tactics. In the worst-case scenario, if all the proposed amendments are tabled and passed, Legco will lose its function of monitoring the government. Since the handover, the pan-democrats’ most significant contribution has been to guard Legco’s power to veto government bills.