Motion Of Thanks For Policy Blueprint Passes Easily

A motion of thanks for Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s policy address was easily passed by the pro-government dominated Legislative Council on Friday, with all but two lawmakers voting in support of it.

Lawmakers praised the city’s leader for featuring Greater Bay Area integration, reform of the liberal studies subject, and a restoration of constitutional order in her policy blueprint last November.

But over the three days of speeches, pro-establishment lawmakers were, at times, scathing in their criticism of the administration’s efforts to handle the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

They called on authorities to do more to fight the Covid-19 outbreak, and to help people ride out the economic downturn.

The two lawmakers who voted against the motion of thanks were non-establishment members Cheng Chung-tai from Civic Passion and Pierre Chan, who represents the medical sector.

The vice chairman of the DAB, lawmaker Holden Chow, said with almost all opposition lawmakers having left the council, the vetting process this year was very smooth.

He said legislators are now able to reflect public opinions to officials during these debates, instead of being disrupted by delaying tactics by his rival camp.

"We don't want to waste time on the filibustering,” he said. “Of course some of my colleagues would provide advice. They might also criticise the policy address, but we don't do it in a very obstructive manner.”

He said he believes the government will listen to the advice and criticism aired during the debate.

Results from a public opinion poll conducted by the Public Opinion Research Institute right after the policy address announcement in November showed 64 percent of those interviewed disapproved of the policy blueprint, with people surveyed giving it an average 27.2 marks out of a hundred.

But Chow said pro-government legislators had reflected social needs to officials attending the debate, and had raised concerns ranging from anti-epidemic efforts to support for the unemployed.