Filibuster in Hong Kong's legislative assembly divides lawmakers, public

The original filibusters were pirates, not politicians, terrorising the cities of the West Indies and inciting revolts in Latin America.

Since the term was first applied to politicians in the United States in the 19th century, those who have engaged in the practice have, rather like the pirates of old, been portrayed alternately as swashbuckling heroes providing an essential check and balance on power or villains intent on wrecking civilised society.

In Hong Kong, a recent filibuster led by radical lawmakers, including "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung - a man who might not look out of place swinging across the foredeck of a Spanish galleon, cutlass in mouth - has seen a new twist in the tactic.

While previous filibusters have seen lawmakers attempt to talk out specific bills, Leung and allies Wong Yuk-man, Albert Chan Wai-yip and Raymond Chan Chi-chuen wanted to derail a vote on the budget in order to push for the implementation of a universal pension.

The manoeuvre, eventually cut short by the Legco president, led lawmakers from all sides to question whether the filibuster should continue to exist as a "last resort" option.

Civic Party lawmaker Ronny Tong Ka-wah fears that use of such delaying tactics in the Legislative Council could backfire, giving rise to more restrictions on legislators' power. He believes a fully democratic legislature is the ultimate solution to filibustering, and that a lawmaker's right to filibuster should be protected until universal suffrage is achieved.