CE Backs Regina Ip's Tough Stance At Legco Meeting

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has defended lawmaker Regina Ip's handling of a rowdy bills committee meeting on Monday, after pan-dems accused the New People's Party chairwoman of steamrolling through the West Kowloon Station bill.

Four pro-democracy legislators were ejected from the meeting – with most of them carried out by security guards – before the committee went on to pass draft legislation to allow the mainland to control much of the high-speed rail terminus.

Some pan-dems said Ip had overstepped her authority by cutting short their time to speak and rushing to a vote. But Lam said she believed Ip had done her best to manage the meeting, in difficult circumstances.

"This particular bill is actually a very simply bill with only eight clauses, but a total of 19 meetings, including two public hearing sessions, have taken place, lasting for over 60 hours of discussions ... and I think Mrs Ip has taken a very responsible approach to conducting the meetings and allowing the meeting to come to a conclusion."

Speaking ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting on Tuesday morning, Lam also said she believed that lawmakers had been given plenty of time to raise questions.

The bill next goes to Legco's House Committee and is expected to be put to the full council on June 6. The new cross-border line is due to open in September.