Hong Kong Legislative Council meeting aborted as lawmakers turn to campaigning for district elections

The panel meeting was meant to discuss new land and development policy initiatives announced by the government last month

But only nine Legco members showed up, meaning they could not meet the minimum quorum of 12

2-MIN READ2-MIN

The Legislative Council chamber. A panel meeting was forced to adjourn on Tuesday due to low attendance. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 1:58pm, 5 Nov 2019Updated: 10:48pm, 5 Nov 2019

A panel meeting of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council was forced to adjourn on Tuesday due to low attendance as lawmakers instead chose to spend their time on district council election campaigns.

After two pan-democratic Legco members deliberately walked out of the meeting, just nine were left to discuss new land and development policy initiatives announced by the government last month. A minimum of 12 Legco members, up to a total of 37, are needed for panel sessions to go ahead.

At 8.45am, after the quorum bell rang for 15 minutes, chairman of the development panel Tony Tse Wai-chuen adjourned the meeting until further notice.

Secretary for Development Michael Wong Wai-lun was among the 17 officials invited to attend the meeting.

Lawmaker Tony Tse Wai-chuen was one of only a few Legco members to attend a panel meeting on Tuesday, forcing it to be aborted. Photo: Edward Wong

“We only need 12 people for a meeting, and it’s unfortunate that we were not able to form such a quorum,” said Tse. “There were numerous items we need to discuss, and the public is very much concerned about land and development issues.”