By Coconuts Hong Kong October 21, 2015 / 12:09 HKT
Like us Follow us
An opposition lawmaker has drafted a bill calling on Hong Kong’s chief executive to be governed by the same laws as other civil servants when it comes to accepting gifts and advantages.
Quick, get that fruit basket sent to Government House without delay!
Labour Party member Cyd Ho, who drafted the private member’s bill, asked yesterday, "If it is the government policy to crack down on corruption, how can the chief executive alone be exempted?”
While you may think that is a ruddy good question, the SCMP reports that there is little chance of the bill being passed due to the dominance of pro-establishment lawmakers in LegCo.
The bold move by Ho comes just two weeks after former Hong Kong CE Donald Tsang was charged with misconduct due to the alleged acceptance of lavish gifts – such as a penthouse in Shenzhen and trips on yacht sand private jet – from prominent tycoons.
This, in turn, has renewed calls for current Chief Executive CY Leung to subject himself to the same rules that apply to all civil servants, as he vowed he would after his election in 2012.
Back then, Leung promised to quickly adopt policy recommendations put forward by a committee led by former Chief Justice Andrew Li, but a timetable remains elusive.
The government says any change would involve "constitutional, legal and operational implications”... which we dare say is kind of the point.
Photo: Public Domain Images
http://hongkong.coconuts.co/2015/10/21/hong-kong-lawmaker-calls-end-chief-execs-exemption-gifts-and-advantages-rule
