Legco Debates Filibuster-curbing Rule Changes

The Legiislative Council's powerful Finance Committee began on Thursday to debate proposed rule changes aimed at curbing filibustering.

Pro-government councillors are looking to strip lawmakers of their power to move motions to adjourn meetings, and restrict them to raise only one new motion during meetings. Pan-democratic lawmakers have in recent years used both procedures to delay votes on controversial funding requests from the government.

Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung was among those who warned that moving ahead with the proposed changes will undercut lawmakers' ability to demand clear answers from officials.

"There will be nothing much left when we have concerns on the way an official answers the questions", Yeung said. "Any changes will harm the future, will harm the future legislators, will harm the future check and balance."

But the convenor of the pro-establishment camp, Martin Liao – who proposed the changes – disagrees, saying there's an "absolute need" to change the rules that he says have been abused by some lawmakers in recent years. Liao says a better balance should be struck between the council's duty to monitor the use of public money, and to vet government funding applications on initiatives that affect people's livelihood.