Lawmakers Divided Over Amended Law On Jab Exemptions

Lawmakers on Wednesday were divided over legal amendments on invalidating Covid-19 vaccination exemption certificates that are issued improperly.

The updated regulation, which took effect on Wednesday, gives the Secretary for Health power to void exemption documents if there are grounds to believe they are issued without proper medical consultations. It came after a High Court ruling last week that banned the move.

Health minister Lo Chung-mau said about 20,000 vaccine exemption certificates, issued by seven doctors accused of handing them out without proper medical consultations, will again become invalid in two weeks’ time. Citing newly-equipped powers he has under the law, Lo said there's reason to believe the doctors did not hold the consultations.

But speaking to reporters at the Legislative Council, Third Side lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen said the government should have appealed the High Court ruling to allow discussion in society.

He added that he believed it was possible that the administration does not have sufficient legal basis to launch an appeal.

"We urge the government to handle sensitive issues in society with careful consideration. This incident indicates that the government has undermined the credibility of its own governance," Tik said.

Legislator Priscilla Leung, meanwhile, said it is up to the government to decide whether to launch an appeal or amend the law after balancing the public's interests, but added there might have been a different outcome to the case if the initial ruling was challenged in a higher court.

Earlier on an RTHK programme, another lawmaker Doreen Kong called for more clarity from the government.

"Why does the government feel that there is such an urgency and a crisis to plug the loopholes? I think the government should come out and explain, and it shouldn't be left to us to make guesses on many things," Kong said.

Kong also expressed reservations about the government extending the vaccine pass scheme until June next year, adding it would affect Hong Kong's return to normalcy.