Hong Kong lawmakers to be fined HK$3,400 for skipping Legislative Council meetings under proposed rule changes

Committee on Rules of Procedure chairman Paul Tse says policy aimed at protecting dignity of chamber, especially since opposition used quorums as filibustering tactic

Raft of other changes include business attire requirement and ban on placards at desks

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An empty Legco chamber. Hong Kong’s opposition lawmakers resigned en masse last year in protest. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 9:23pm, 8 Jun 2021Updated: 12:56am, 9 Jun 2021

Hong Kong lawmakers will be fined HK$3,400 (US$438) for skipping meetings without proper reasons if proposed amendments to the Legislative Council’s rule book are passed.

Legco’s Committee on Rules of Procedure, which comprises 12 pro-establishment legislators, revealed the suggested changes after a closed-door meeting on Tuesday.

Paul Tse Wai-chun, the committee chairman, said the fine was aimed at protecting the dignity of the legislature, as opposition lawmakers had used the counting of quorums as a filibustering tactic to block government proposals.

“This might not be needed in other legislatures, but after the riots and some serious chaos in the Legco chamber, we need these new rules,” he said, referring to the anti-government protests of 2019.

“People may raise the issue of whether it is too childish to impose a fine on legislators. But this is an effective way to stop members from delaying proceedings.”

Lawmaker Paul Tse, chairman of Legco’s Committee on Rules of Procedure. Photo: Edward Wong