Police Funding Row Delays Start Of Legco Debate

This week's full council Legco meeting was delayed by an hour and a half as an opposition lawmaker threw a spanner in the works in a bid to stop funding for the police and the CE's office.

Legislators are discussing the government's request for HK$215 billion to bridge a gap in funding until this year's budget is approved.

Pan-democrats want to amend the funding request so no money goes to the Chief Executive's Office or the police.

Chu Hoi-dick of the Land Justice League was the only pan-democrat among 31 lawmakers present when he called for a quorum count. Thirty-five legislators were needed for the meeting to proceed.

Priscilla Leung of the Business and Professionals Alliance accused the pan-democrats of filibustering in a time of crisis.

"It's not the time for filibustering or even for one personal objection for one particular item, namely, they do not want to give any cent to the police force, which I find grossly unreasonable," she said.

Chu had proposed adjourning the temporary funding request, saying he's concerned that the government could technically use the entire sum to fund the police force – when this year's budget is still under review.

"This resolution proposed by the government is a de facto passage of the budget itself. The financial secretary, after the passage of this resolution, will have the power to grant 100 percent of the police budget next year. That is something we cannot allow," he said.