Variety By Patrick Frater Dec 17, 2015 8:48 AM
Hong Kong legislators began an enforced second day of debate on an update of the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014, but a counter motion for adjournment was advanced by Cyd Ho as proceedings started.
After 11 hours of discussion the session was suspended without a vote.
The adjournment debate turned into a replica of the actual debate on the bill. Some legislative councillors debated the copyright issues, while others repeatedly used delaying tactics, including dozens of quorum calls, to eat up time.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Gregory So, addressed the Legislative Council, urging adoption of the bill, and rejection of the adjournment motion. He suggested that the new law would be immediately reviewed.
“A sound system of intellectual property protection is a key part of the knowledge-based economy. The bill will help development of the creative industries,” he said. “The Legislative Council should adopt the bill as soon as possible so that all parties and stakeholders benefit. Then society can also focus on the next round of review to consider how to further improve the existing copyright system.”
League of Social Democrats lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung, wearing a Che Guevara pullover and a rainbow scarf, likened the government’s approach to that of a shopkeeper knowingly trying to sell shoes two sizes too small, but offering the customer the promise that he can bring back the ill-fitting shoes in the future.
On a more radical note, and in a strong defence of freedom of speech, Leung said that “people’s rights are more important than the rights of copyright holders.”
It emerged clearly that the deep unpopularity of Hong Kong’s Chief Executive CY Leung, who has been in power some three years, makes it impossible for many lawmakers to believe anything that the government promises.
Alan Leong Ka-kit of the Civic Party said that So’s suggestion of “pocketing the reforms we suggest now and then we promise to fix the problem later,” has become typical of Leung’s regime. Leong cited a trio of other matters in recent weeks including immigration rules, government spending plans and a cross-border railway link. “Who would trust this government,” said another, Albert Ho.
Others said the fight for freedom of expression on the Internet is becoming more important because of fundamental changes in Hong Kong life. “Conventional media have been undermined in Hong Kong. The Internet is the last place we have any freedom,” said Pan Democrat lawmaker Raymond Wong Yuk-man.
Leong cited the latest market rumor – that China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba is seeking to buy theMing Pao newspaper, having this week agreed to buy the South China Morning Post as another reason to halt and rethink the copyright bill. “We need a free Internet to resist the Red Tide,” he said.
Democratic Party lawmaker Emily Lau put the blame for the difficulty of passing the copyright bill firmly at the government’s door. “CY Leung has torn society apart. Hong Kong has now lost the ability to solve its problems,” she said.
The debate will resume Friday morning.
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