Budget Sails Through Legco In Just Three Weeks

Lawmakers have passed this year's budget after three weeks of debate, a change from recent years when months were spent vetting the city's financial blueprint for the coming year.

The house also saw three opposition lawmakers – Charles Mok, Kenneth Leung and Joseph Lee – voting for the budget which passed with 43 legislators backing it. Eleven opposed the bill, while eight lawmakers abstained.

Dozens of amendments proposed by the pan-democrats were rejected during the debate. Change to rules of procedure also ruled out the filibuster tactics the opposition had employed in the past.

After the disqualification of six opposition lawmakers last year, the pro-government side pushed through changes to the rules that govern council procedures, to prevent the time-wasting moves the outnumbered opposition had relied on.

But People Power's Ray Chan criticised Legco President Andrew Leung for the brief debates. "The time I had was extremely limited. At the committee stage last year, I spoke 17 times. This year, not counting this current round, I spoke only five times," he said.

Speaking after the bill was passed, Financial Secretary Paul Chan thanked lawmakers and said the speedy passage of the budget bill was a result of good interaction and listening to people's views.