Legco Puts Joint Checkpoint Meetings On Fast Lane

A Legco committee scrutinising the controversial joint checkpoint plan for the express rail link at West Kowloon, is speeding up its vetting process, squeezing in as many as 12 meetings before the end of April to discuss the proposal.

The committee has also scheduled an entire day on March 17 for a public hearing on the issue. The bill committee's chairwoman, Regina Ip, said the panel hopes to allow as many as 100 people to express their opinions on the plan.

Opposition lawmakers have accused Ip of working to bulldoze the bill through the legislature by limiting the time allocated for legislators to speak, but she denies it.

Ip said she has set no deadline to deal with the bill, but hopes it can be passed before Legco's summer break.

Critics have accused the government proposal to allow mainland officials to be stationed at the West Kowloon terminal of contravening the Basic Law, which stipulates that mainland laws can be applied in the city.

Officials have denied this, saying the arrangement will help boost the city's economy.