Lawmakers Pass Anti-filibuster Rule Changes

Pan-democratic lawmakers have lost two of their most potent filibustering weapons, after Legco’s Finance Committee approved controversial rule changes.

In recent years, some pan-democrats have successfully held up government funding requests for long periods by moving motions to adjourn Finance Committee meetings, and bringing up new amendments during meetings without prior notice.

Now, pro-government councillors have passed rule changes banning adjournment motions, and limiting councillors to raise only one new amendment per meeting.

Pan-democrats say the move is a short-sighted one that will mean legislators cannot in future effectively demand full accountability from officials who come to the committee with funding requests.

But pro-government lawmakers say the move was crucial to curb what they say were rampant abuses of the rules to hold up much-needed livelihood government initiatives.