Legco President's Act Ensures PLA Get Central Plot

A section of prime harbourfront land will be ceded to the military on Saturday, after the Legislative Council president Andrew Leung adjourned proceedings until next week.

The council deals with such land transfers under so-called "negative vetting" rules, meaning the legislation doesn't have to be voted on and is passed by default if no objections are raised.

Leung's decision on Thursday thus prevents legislators from discussing matters related to the subsidiary legislation on the transfer of land before it takes effect on Saturday.

Pro-democracy lawmakers Au Nok-hin and Chu Hoi-dick had tried to stop the surrender of the 150-metre strip of land to the PLA by submitting amendments to the legislation.

However on Wednesday financial services sector lawmaker Christopher Cheung moved to adjourn the meeting - which would effectively delay proceedings beyond the Saturday deadline. He denied this was his intention, saying he proposed the adjournment to allow time for lawmakers to brainstorm on how the government can restore stability in society following the extradition bill saga.

In the end Cheung's motion to adjourn was voted down by pan-democrats, as many pro-government lawmakers abstained.

Au Nok-hin then asked for more time to discuss the proposed amendments on Friday but council president Andrew Leung refused, saying there's wasn't enough time as various other meetings had already been scheduled. He adjourned the meeting to Wednesday.