Rival Legco Camps Agree On Talks To Break Deadlock

Lawmakers from the two rival camps are to hold talks aimed at resolving the deadlock in Legco over the extradition law bill, despite the government rejecting suggestions for a tripartite meeting.

But even as they announced the meeting, the two camps seemed entrenched in their previous positions about the control of the bills committee that is to vet the controversial amendments.

Pro-government camp convenor Martin Liao said Abraham Shek is the only leader of the committee that his side recognises.

Meanwhile his counterpart in the opposition, Claudia Mo, said the pan-democrats want to keep James To as the elected chairman of the committee.

The pro-government camp said Liao, Gary Chan, Tommy Cheung and Alice Mak will be its representatives at the meeting. The pan-democrats said Wu Chi-wai, Alvin Yeung and Kenneth Leung along with Mo will attend on their behalf.

The meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday morning.

The latest development comes after Democrat James To proposed the government join tripartite talks on the issue, but the administration said officials shouldn't intervene in the selection of a chairman for the bills committee, saying this formed part of Legco's internal affairs.

The committee vetting the bill has so far failed to achieve anything due to a conflict between the pro-government and pro-democracy camps over which lawmaker has the right to lead the panel. Anger between the two sides has led to chaotic scenes in the legislature.

Reports have indicated that some pro-government lawmakers favour bypassing the bills committee and presenting the bill directly to the full council to overcome the standoff. But some lawmakers in the camp, like Felix Chung of the Liberal Party, are not in favour of such a step.

After two attempts to hold meetings of the bills committee, pro-government lawmaker Shek has written to the House Committee for instructions on how to move forward. The House Committee will hold its next meeting on Friday.

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