Bid For Adjournment Debate On Poll Violence Rejected

The president of Legco on Wednesday rejected a bid for an adjournment debate on district council election-related violence.

The convenor of the pro-government side, Martin Liao, asked for the council to suspend its normal business and discuss what the government should do to ensure the safety of election candidates.

Legco’s president Andrew Leung suspended the meeting to handle the request, but later ruled that there was no need for an adjournment debate.

He said he agreed that the issue was important, but said there are other ways for lawmakers to address the matter.

Liao had said an adjournment debate should be held to push the government to implement immediate measures to uphold the fairness of the polls to be held on November 24.

He cited cases in which election candidates were attacked and their offices vandalised.

But pan-democratic lawmakers accused the pro-government camp of trying to filibuster the meeting in a bid to delay a debate on whether the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, should be investigated over allegations of breaching the law and neglecting her duties.

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