Opposition lawmaker Dennis Kwok Wing-hang was again in the firing line on Friday for deliberately stalling the election of a chairperson of the Legislative Council’s House Committee at its 16th meeting.
Former House Committee chairperson Starry Lee Wai-king, who is standing for re-election to the post, said more than 1,000 residents have told her they’re worried about the dysfunctioning of the committee, which is a key organ of the legislature
Kwok of the Civic Party has been presiding over meetings to choose a new chairperson, but the position has remained vacant due to continued filibustering by opposition legislators since October last year, with at least 14 bills being held up, and 89 pieces of subsidiary legislation lapsing so far.
Former House Committee chairperson Starry Lee Wai-king, who is standing for re-election to the post, said more than 1,000 residents have told her they’re worried about the dysfunctioning of the committee, which is a key organ of the legislature.
As a candidate, Lee is barred from presiding over the election. But, she said she would not stand down as it would not only disappoint her supporters, but also harm the due process as it might indicate she’s bowing to coercion.
“If I were to drop out of the race, the opposition would achieve their political goals and take the helm of the committee,” she said.
“And, even if I quit, there’s no guarantee I can preside over the election,” said Lee, who also chairs the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.
Expressing his discontent, DAB lawmaker Gary Chan Hak-kan demanded that Kwok deal with the election as soon as possible because it’s his only duty and he’s in no position to handle motions related to any bill.
Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, who represents the business sector in the legislature, said Kwok has overstepped his authority by handling matters that aren’t related to the election.
Kwok has come under intense criticism lately from prominent local political and civic leaders, as well as the central government, for paralyzing the operations of the legislature through delaying tactics.
Two central government agencies overseeing Hong Kong affairs — the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR — have censured Kwok and other opposition lawmakers for holding up the passage of livelihood-related bills, including one providing for the extension of maternity leave from 10 weeks to 14 weeks.
In its latest statement, the HKMAO said the LegCo impasse has severely affected the implementation of the Basic Law, undermined the fundamental interests of the Hong Kong residents, and threatened the city’s constitutional order.
