EditorialPolls need to signal new chapter for Hong Kong’s Legislative Council
- As another unedifying term comes to a close for the Hong Kong legislature, concerted efforts are required from all for the sake of governance and political development
Four years ago, the Post expressed concerns that the Legislative Council had just gone through the worst of times in the wake of intensifying filibustering and bickering. The situation since then has become even more distressing. As another four-year term has come to an end, serious soul-searching by all stakeholders is called for.
The time spent on quorum headcounts – an opposition tactic to delay proceedings – may have been less than before. But the 15-minute bell to gather lawmakers back to the chamber still rang more than 500 times, wasting some 87 hours, or 5 per cent of time for proceedings.
Weekly sittings were aborted 14 times, compared to 18 the previous term, but members were expelled 97 times for misbehaviour, against 75 before. A raft of bills and funding proposals was abandoned because of insufficient time for scrutiny.
But the woes go beyond disturbing numbers. From improper oath-taking to the disqualification of lawmakers; from stalling key funding proposals and co-location checkpoint arrangements for the cross-border high-speed rail to the stand-off over the controversial extradition bill; from the deadlock over the election of the House Committee chairman to escalating theatrics and clashes, the episodes have raised serious questions about the role of the legislature and political development.
01:33
Hong Kong lawmaker throws container of rotten plants in protest of controversial national anthem law
Equally worrying were confrontations outside the chamber. The Legco complex was stormed by protesters at the height of last year’s social unrest.