Legco Rules Should Evolve With Times: Abraham Shek

Pro-government lawmaker Abraham Shek on Friday said Legco is a "living institution" and its rules should evolve to fit society's needs.

But he said this evolution process should be done in a democratic manner and agreed by the majority.

Shek was speaking on the row over a move to replace the legislature's most senior lawmaker, Democratic Party member James To, from presiding over a Bills Committee tasked with vetting controversial extradition law amendments. The committee has failed to elect a chair after two meetings.

The pro-government side is urging Legco's House Committee to issue guideline that will allow Shek to replace To as the presiding lawmaker in the next Bills Committee meeting on Monday. But the opposition is arguing that such a guideline need not be binding on the Bills Committee.

Shek said if there is a dispute whether the guideline is binding or not, the House Committee members can debate and vote on it. That decision should be binding on the Bills Committee, he said.

Earlier, Civic Party lawmaker Alvin Yeung rejected claims that guidelines should be binding on Bills Committees. He said it is up to the presiding lawmaker to decide whether to accept them or not.

In 2008 the Legco secretariat said that guidelines issued by the House Committee need not be binding and is only “for general reference".