Regina Ip Denies Charges Of Bias On Panel

The head of the New People's Party, Regina Ip, on Tuesday denied accusations that she is biased towards the government in her role as chairwoman of a Legislative Council committee.

The committee is scrutinising a government bill that would allow mainland laws to be enforced in part of the Express Rail Link terminus in West Kowloon under the so-called "co-location" plan.

Ip had allowed the usual five minutes for the first question, but cut down time allotted for additional questions – four minutes for a second question, three minutes for a third and so forth.

On Monday, 22 pan-democrat legislators issued a joint petition and an open letter, accusing Ip of limiting their questions at the last meeting, but Ip accused them of overreacting.

"That’s totally untrue," Ip said. "I set time limits as usual."

Ip said she always set time limits, but denied limiting questions.

"But I did point out – in accordance with the rules of procedure – members should not ask hypothetical questions which deal with abstract issues and …intended to elicit just an opinion," Ip said.

Supporters of the joint checkpoint plan say it will allow travellers to complete passport checks before boarding and it will then be possible to travel anywhere on the mainland without any further checks.

But opponents say it goes against Article 18 of the Basic Law which prohibits national laws being applied in Hong Kong.