Jasper Tsang wants council to move on to other matters instead of being bogged down by debate over controversial law
JOYCE.NG@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Friday, 08 January, 2016, 2:25pm
UPDATED : Friday, 08 January, 2016, 2:27pm
Legco president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing held separate meetings with the pan-democrat and pro-establishment camps in an attempt to resolve the statemate over the copyright bill. Photo: Nora Tam
The Legislative Council president has hinted he could stop the filibuster over the controversial copyright bill to get the council to move on and deal with other business in its remaining term.
But as the pan-democrats stay firm on forcing adjournments of the debate by remaining absent from meetings, it may be difficult for the president to even do so, a pro-establishment lawmaker observed.
The Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014 is supported by copyright owners as they believe it will protect them against infringements, but it is opposed by internet users and pan-democrats, who have demanded further amendments for broader exemptions on fears it could be used to suppress creative freedom online.
A day after the pan-democrats forced the council meeting to be adjourned by repeated calls for a quorum – for the second time in two months – Legco president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing held separate meetings with the two rival camps and the three pan-democrats who made the calls.
Albert Chan Wai-yip, one of the three that had sought the quorum, said after the meeting that Tsang told them he would “restrict the debate time”.
“We object to setting a time frame because the amendments are extremely sensitive and complicated,” Chan said. “If the president does not allow sufficient time, it will create similar problems to those of the previous copyright bill.”
Chan and other pan-democrats have urged commerce minister Greg So Kam-leung to come up with a counter proposal to improve the bill.
Tsang noted Chan’s concerns. “My principle is that legislators should have ample opportunities to thoroughly debate a bill as controversial as this one,” he said.
“But on the other hand, the council should be operated smoothly. We can’t let one single bill drag on for too long.”
READ MORE: Hong Kong copyright bill explained: Why are people so concerned about this?
Before the end of the term in summer, the council still had about 15 other bills to scrutinise, as well as the bill for the annual government budget, for which debate is scheduled in April, he added.
With the pan-democrats remaining keen to put pressure on the government by calling for quorum, Liberal Party chairman Felix Chung Kwok-pan said even stopping the filibuster would be difficult due to the lack of numbers.
“The pro-establishment lawmakers have tried their best to remain in the chamber, but with around 39 of us who are usually here, it is difficult to keep the quorum of 35 at all times,” Chung said.
Cyd Ho Sau-lan, convenor of an alliance of 23 pan-democrats, said it was not Tsang’s duty to solve the deadlock. Instead, the government should revise the bill to be acceptable to all.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1899066/legco-president-considers-restricting-debate-time-end
