Starry Lee Has Power To Break Deadlock: Andrew Leung

Legco president Andrew Leung said on Monday that as the most recent chair of the House Committee, DAB leader Starry Lee has the power to seize control of meetings and clear a backlog of business that's built up due to filibustering by the pan-dems.

Leung said that outside legal advice suggests Lee has the authority and responsibility to direct affairs of the House Committee, which has failed to elect a chairperson since Legco came back after the summer break last year.

"Both the secretariat and the outside senior counsel are of the view that in the present situation the incumbent House Committee chairman, the honorable Starry Lee, has the responsibility and authority to deal with the problems posed by the inordinate delay in the election of the chairman, and make sure there is no undue disruption to the work of House Committee and its normal or proper functioning.” Leung said.

Lee is seeking re-election as chairwoman and the Civic Party's Dennis Kwok has been presiding over committee meetings in the meantime.

Leung said Kwok has been allowing issues unrelated to the election to be discussed at meetings, and this has been inconsistent with his duties.

"I have monitored the developments closely and made repeated appeals in public, urging members to put aside their political differences and complete the election of the House Committee chairman as soon as possible so that the council can resume normal functioning," the Legco president said.

"The failure of the House Committee to function normally has rendered the council unable to properly perform its functions as stipulated in Article 73 of the Basic Law."

Leung and the pro-establishment camp have come under increased pressure in the past couple of weeks to break the committee deadlock which is holding up a number of bills, including legislation to outlaw disrespect for the national anthem.

The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and Beijing's liaison office had issued statements condemning the pan-dems for the filibustering and calling for them to be prosecuted for "misconduct in public office".