Hong Kong legislature president vows to get rival camps talking as copyright bill stalls again
Jasper Tsang Yok-sing’s remarks came as the latest consideration of the controversial measure ended in adjournment without substantive debate
Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing urged the commerce minister to talk to rival leaders from the pan-democratic and pro-establishment camps after the debate on the controversial copyright bill was adjourned again yesterday with too few lawmakers in attendance.
Tsang’s appeal came shortly before the pan-democrats warned it was the responsibility of officials to resolve the stalemate.
The Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014 is supported by copyright owners as they believe it will protect them against infringements, but it is opposed by internet users and pan-democrats, who have demanded broader exemptions on fears it could be used to suppress freedom online.
READ MORE: Hong Kong copyright bill explained: Why are people so concerned about this?
Debate on the bill was delayed for a week last month after the pan-democrats forced an adjournment by repeated calls for a quorum in what was a delaying tactic. Under the Legislative Council’s rules, a meeting must be suspended if fewer than 35 lawmakers are present after the 15-minute quorum bell is called.
After the meeting started at 9am yesterday, the pan-democrats called for a quorum 16 times. At 2.50pm, the meeting was adjourned as only 33 pro-establishment lawmakers were in the chamber. No pan-democrat was present. NeoDemocrat Gary Fan Kwok-wai, who requested the quorum, left the chamber seconds before the time was up.
Tam Yiu-chung, of the Beijing-loyalist Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, was furious. “We strongly reprimand all lawmakers who weren’t there, especially the pan-democrats,” he said.
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Greg So Kam-leung, a former vice-chairman of the DAB, expressed “extreme regret” at the adjournment.