Bills Committee Row Leads To More Legco Clashes

Legco's House Committee on Friday voted in favour of allowing the government to put the controversial fugitives bill to the full council for deliberation.

Forty lawmakers supported the move to bypass the bills committee, while 19 were against, including pro-Beijing councillor Michael Tien.

Lawmakers also supported another motion, tabled by the DAB's Holden Chow, to dissolve the bills committee set up to vet the government's proposal.

Earlier there were more clashes between the opposition and the government side over the amendments, with pan-democratic lawmakers raising questions over the constitutionality of the decision to dissolve the bills committee.

The confrontation led to a brief suspension at one point and the ejection of four opposition lawmakers from the meeting room.

Chairwoman of the House Committee, the DAB's Starry Lee, was constantly challenged by the opposition as the debate started on whether to accept the government's proposal to bypass a bills committee and table the controversial fugitives bill directly to the full council.

Before Lee called for a vote on a motion on whether to accept the government's move, some lawmakers got out of their seats, shouting their protests.

This led to a brief interruption of the proceedings and ended up in Claudia Mo, Au Nok-hin, Chu Hoi-dick and Ted Hui being thrown out.

The second reading of the bill will take place on the 12th of next month.