Rules amended to stop amending of amendments; lawmakers say 'Amen'
Lawmakers say 'amen' to complicated system for members' motions in bid to 'focus on work'
Lawmakers from today are no longer allowed to move amendments to amendments in discussion of non-binding members' motions.
The change to a rule that has existed since 1993 was adopted by the Legislative Council rules of procedure committee after being proposed by pan-democrat Kenneth Leung Kai-cheong.
Leung insisted his move was not an attempt to limit freedom of speech but was instead aimed at simplifying an often complicated system.
"I hope the change can help bring the focus back to work," the accounting-sector lawmaker said.
"Some said the rule change limits colleagues' chances to express their views … but amendments to amendments are often moved because a shorter notice period is required," he said, noting that amendments required five days' notice while amendments to amendments needed only three.
The last amendment to an amendment was tabled by Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker Wong Kwok-kin last week, on Lee Cheuk-yan's amendment to the motion of thanks for the chief executive's policy address.
The Beijing loyalist sought to water down the pan-democrat's amendment which "regretted" the chief executive's failure to fulfil an election promise. The motion of thanks was voted down.