Chu Kwok-keung, a member of the Legislative Council in the education sector who is the principal of an aided primary school, voted in favor of the discussion item on rationalizing the salaries of public-sector primary school principals at the Legislative Council's Panel on Education last week, and was questioned as involving a conflict of interest.
"Hong Kong 01" asked Zhu Guoqiang whether he knew beforehand whether he should vote or not. Zhu Guoqiang said, "Absolutely!" He also pointed out that he asked the secretariat beforehand, and the other party only stated that he needed to declare his interests, but did not say that he could not vote, emphasizing that he was a representative of the industry. Voting on industry issues is legal and compliant.
The Panel on Education discussed the issue of rationalizing the salaries of public sector primary school principals last Friday (6th), including raising the starting salary and maximum salary of public sector primary school principals. More than 100,000 yuan per month.
Zhu Guoqiang declared his interests before the first speech, and voted in favor of the vote. The final motion was passed with 13 votes in favor, 1 vote against and 2 abstentions.
Rule 84(1) of the Rules of Procedure states that at a meeting of the Legislative Council or any committee or sub-committee, a member shall not vote on any question in which he has a direct pecuniary interest, unless the member's interest is in the whole or part of Hong Kong The public also enjoys it, or the matters voted on by Members are government policy.
Ye Liu quoted the secretariat as saying there should be no vote
Ye Liu Shuyi, chairman of the New Democracy Party, said that members of the Legislative Council, as public officials, should handle conflicts of interest carefully. Zhu Guoqiang is the principal of a primary school and has direct financial interests in the adjustment of the principal's salary. It is better to avoid voting and not vote.
For example, she pointed out that whenever the Legislative Council discusses the funding for Disney, because she is a shareholder of Disney, she will also refrain from attending the meeting. She also mentioned that Ocean Park applied to the Legislative Council Finance Committee for funding the year before, and part of it was used to repay the Bank of China loan and serve as the Bank of China. Advisor Chen Zhenying and Bank of China director Liao Changjiang both avoided the meeting.
Ye Liu Shuyi said that she asked the secretariat after the event, and the other party said that under this circumstance, she should not vote, which was different from Chu Guoqiang's statement, or that she might need to consult the legal counsel of the Legislative Council.
She also said that as a representative of the industry, even if you do not vote, it does not mean that you cannot speak for the industry. Members can still speak after declaring their interests.
Zhu Guoqiang pointed out that the practice is legal and compliant, and Xie Weijun said that representing the interests of the industry is "no strictness"
Zhu Guoqiang responded that he had asked the secretariat beforehand, and the other party only stated that he needed to declare his interests, but did not express that he would abstain from voting.
He believes that as a representative of the industry, he should vote on industry issues, and his practice is legal and compliant. "If you say that, you can't vote without tax deduction, and everyone will benefit." He pointed out that there are currently about 400 people believed that voting on the relevant motion complied with the condition of "sharing the same interests as a certain part of the public" in the "Rules for Members of Parliament", but next time they encounter a similar situation, they will consider a different approach.
Xie Weijun, chairman of the Rules of Procedure Committee, said that as a general practice, members need to declare when dealing with issues of interest. If other members object to the meeting, members of interest need to abstain from voting.
He pointed out that there is a difference between the situation involving the interests of a company and the interests of the entire industry. The situation involving the interests of the industry is relatively "no serious", because members of the parliament are not the only beneficiaries, and it is similar to the condition of "sharing the same interests as a certain part of the public" .
Xie Weijun mentioned that if there are complaints from members and the public, the Legislative Council Members' Personal Interests Monitoring Committee will investigate.
Ng Wing-ka, chairman of the Members' Personal Interests Monitoring Committee, said it was inconvenient to comment at this stage.
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