Editorial | Hong Kong’s Legco rule changes must not go too far
- Any changes must serve to improve governance and it is important that lawmakers can continue exercising checks and balances effectively under the Basic Law
With the Legislative Council currently devoid of opposition, pro-Beijing lawmakers have passed amendments to the house rules that they say will make the operation more efficient. These include limiting members’ speaking time and suspending members for “grossly disorderly conduct”.
For many people who have had enough of the filibustering by some pan-democrats in recent years, the changes are long overdue. But there are also concerns that checks and balances will be compromised as a result.
The suspension mechanism is controversial in that lawmakers could join forces to interdict a colleague deemed to be misbehaving. Upon a vote with no room for debate or amendment, he or she will be barred from discharging duties for a week, followed by two weeks on the second occasion.
The penalty will be double that of the previous one if the disorderly conduct continues, according to the revised Legco rules of procedures. Separately, the duration and rules for speaking and initiating amendments have also been tightened.
That politicians would back changes to curb their own powers and freedoms is just bizarre. With the pan-democrats having resigned en mass in protest against Beijing’s disqualification of four allied lawmakers late last year, the pro-Beijing camp thinks it is a good opportunity to tighten the rules of the game.
