Electoral overhaul: Hong Kong Legco to have second debate on reform bill on May 26
- Bills committee wraps up scrutiny in first round following 12 meetings since April 17, unanimously endorsing changes put forth by government
- The legislation was presented in the near-complete absence of opposition lawmakers following their mass resignation last year
Hong Kong’s legislature will proceed with a second debate on May 26 over laws to implement a Beijing-decreed electoral overhaul, after a speedy approval in the first round from a bills committee dominated by the pro-establishment camp.
A Legislative Council committee on Monday wrapped up its scrutiny of the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill, 2021, following 12 meetings held since April 17, while unanimously endorsing a series of changes put forward by the government.
“We would like to express our gratitude to lawmakers for giving their all to cooperate with the government in scrutinising the bill over the past month,” Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai told the committee on Monday.
“We expect the bill to resume its second reading on May 26 and hope it will have its third reading passed as soon as possible, so we can start working on the coming important elections.”
The bill was scrutinised in the near-complete absence of opposition lawmakers as most from the bloc had resigned en masse last November over the disqualification of four of their colleagues.