Pan-democratic lawmaker Charles Mok said his bid on Wednesday to invoke the Legislative Council’s special powers to probe the government’s controversial television licence decision was only the “first step” in the pursuit for truth. Mok made the remarks on a RTHK radio programme this morning ahead of the key vote on whether to investigate the government’s decision to reject Hong Kong Television Network’s application for a free-to-air TV licence. The vote hung in the balance on Tuesday night after the government reiterated its fears over the potential collapse of the free-to-air market if it handed out too many licences. Mok, who is tabling the special-powers motion, said he expected the vote to take place on Wednesday night – but feared that functional constituency lawmakers might give speeches to “deliberately delay” the voting until Thursday morning, as the HKTV staff union expected 30,000 to 50,000 to rally outside the Legco complex to back the pan-democrats’ bid. “Today is only the first step... if we get our [motion] passed today, we can get some information to investigate,” Mok said. “Even if we fail, we have already forced the government to [explain its decision]. “We won’t stop here.” When asked whether the government would listen to the protesters on Wednesday, Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah said: “Of course we listen to people’s voices, but the key [focus] today is on the Legco’s debate, and I am sure the lawmakers will exercise their right to vote appropriately.” Tsang also dismissed accusations that he had been staying away from the row. “As a government, [we] have explained many times and in great detail, so we won’t have anything new to add,” he said. A majority of both directly elected and functional constituency lawmakers is needed for Mok’s motion to be passed. While the vote among directly elected lawmakers seems sewn up in favour of the motion, it is still four votes short of the number required from functional constituency lawmakers. An HKTV spokeswoman on Wednesday called for all lawmakers to support Mok’s motion. “For the last three weeks, HKTV and Hongkongers have been waiting for the truth … but the reality tells us that the government just lacks the sincerity to solve this problem,” she said. “[Other than calling for the Legco to investigate,] what else can we do? How can people’s discontent be relieved?” The Legco’s information technology and broadcasting panel will hold a special meeting on Friday to grill government officials on the licence row, while cultural sector lawmaker Ma Fung-kwok, who had said he was inclined to oppose the motion, revealed on Sunday that he might “consider filing a judicial review”.
