Pass Fail; a LegCo report card
Calvin Lam summarises what passed and what failed before the end of the LegCo 2014 year in the wake of multiple filibusters.
“The relationship between the executive and legislative branch is still good.” Our CE’s optimism might be at odds given the widening rift between pan-democrats and the Administration. The protests and filibusters in recent months have stalled some controversial and important policies. The Environment Bureau has taken a second beating which their landfill extension proposals once again “adjourned” in the Finance Committee. Charles Mok and Elizabeth Quat, unlikely political bedfellows, have pushed hard for the creation of the Innovation and Technology Bureau but Wong Yuk-man and Longhair made it clear that they will filibuster it with all their might. 17 funding proposals were still stuck in the Finance Committee and several Bills and members’ motions were in the queue in Council. The summer heat will likely be prolonged into the autumn in LegCo. For what did pass - refer to LegCo Round Up. Here is a list of what should have passed in this LegCo session - but didn’t:
Fail!
Environment
• $2 billion for the extension of the Southeast New Territories Landfill in Tseung Kwan O.
• $7.3 billion for the extension of the Northeast New Territories Landfill in Ta Kwu Ling.
• $36.8m for the consultants’ fees and investigations to study the extension of the West New Territories Landfill in Tuen Mun.
• $18.2 billion for the reclamation of about 16 hectares to form an artificial island near Shek Kwu Chau and to build an incinerator on it.
Infrastructure
• $61.9m for the planning, engineering and architectural study for topside development at Hong Kong boundary crossing facilities island of Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge.
Technology
• The proposed Innovation and Technology Bureau was ready to go, but never quite made it. The creation of it was delayed by lengthy discussion on several controversial bills in the Council meeting. The funding proposal of the Bureau was also hindered in the Finance Committee.
Social welfare
• $52.4m funding for the implementation of the Low-income Working Family Allowance and $16.6m to set up the Working Family Allowance Office.
