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Modifying the gathering restriction order no longer bypasses the Legislative Council and restores the government's concessions through MPs: almost fire

2022-06-15T23:15:49.575Z


The government proposed amendments earlier, hoping to change the "gathering restriction order" and "mask order" in the future without having to go to the Legislative Council for review.


The government proposed amendments earlier, hoping that changes to the "gathering restriction order" and "mask order" in the future do not have to be reviewed by the Legislative Council. As a result, during the meeting of the Legislative Council's "Subcommittee on Subsidiary Legislation Related to Disease Prevention and Control", members expressed Strongly dissatisfied, thinking that it is taking away the power of parliament to deliberate on bills.


The committee was at odds with the government, but the government abruptly gave up on Tuesday (14th) and returned the "gathering restriction order" and "mask order" to the original "make first and then review" arrangement.

This turmoil caused not only members to sign against the government's amendment, but also the first time since the "milk restriction order" in 2013 that a government amendment could not be voted on in the Legislative Council. The whole process can be described as "nervous and exciting".


Legislative Council legal adviser reminds lawmakers to oppose

Some parliamentarians told "Hong Kong 01" about "the incident". It turned out that when the government proposed the revision, the members did not pay attention to it. It was the legal adviser of the Legislative Council who reminded him that once the amendment was passed, the Legislative Council would not be able to hear the "gathering restriction order" in the future. and the "mask order", which caused "outrage" among parliamentarians.

Although at the meeting on May 23, some members expressed to the government that what they did was inappropriate, the government handed over the revised proposal to the subcommittee as it is, saying that "if we have time to spare, we will not attend the second meeting."

Jian Huimin urgently typed the joint letter, and all parties signed the letter immediately

Leung Mei-fun, chairman of the subcommittee, pointed out at the time that according to the procedures, the deliberation on the amendment of the ordinance would be completed.

It is a matter of parliamentary power. Members try to stop it by "using a small universe". Election Commission member Kan Huimin even sent a joint letter today and contacted members of all parties and factions to sign it.

The joint letter mentioned that the government's amendments deprived members of the right to deliberation. It also pointed out that the government has submitted relevant amendments eight times since 2020, arguing that it did not hinder the anti-epidemic work, and the government did not provide sufficient reasons to make amendments.

After Jian Huimin completed the joint letter, she started to support people, and the parties "footed together" and "zoomed" signed their names and handed it to Liang Meifen.

The government, through amendments to subsidiary legislation, specified that when the details of the gathering restriction order are amended in the future, they can be announced directly and take effect without further deliberation by the Legislative Council, causing dissatisfaction among many members.

(Screenshot of the live broadcast of the Legislative Council)

The meeting held on June 6, the smell of gunpowder is strong, "rise it" to the relationship between the executive and the legislature

When the subcommittee met on June 6, many members again expressed their dissatisfaction with the government's actions, and even more "promotion" to the executive-legislative relationship.

Jian Huimin made it clear at the meeting, "I hope the bureau will understand that after the election system is improved, the relationship between the Legislative Council and the executive should think about how everyone should 'take it'." Lai Tung-kwok, a member of the New Democratic Party's election committee, also pointed out that this It is a matter of principle. Article 73 of the Basic Law stipulates that the Legislative Council has the power to scrutinize bills, and Members should not give up.

Kan Huimin is the general counsel of BOC Hong Kong, Lai Tung Kwok is the former Secretary of the Security Bureau, the chairman Leung Mei Fun is a member of the Basic Law Committee, and Chen Kaixin, the former political assistant of the Food and Health Bureau, is also in the group. It can be said that there are many "familiar" members of the group. Participation, the incident touches the power of the Legislative Council and even the Basic Law, which naturally touches the nerves of lawmakers.

However, Xu Deyi, deputy director of the Food and Health Bureau, said at the meeting that the amendments can be implemented with flexibility and save some preparatory work within the government.

Seeing that the government's attitude remained unchanged, the members of the subcommittee discussed during the break and proposed amendments to the subsidiary legislation of the government, so as to retain the power of deliberation.

After the "mask order" was tightened in February, many citizens in Victoria Park wore masks to exercise.

(File photo/Photo by Luo Junhao)

The government suddenly reverted to the practice on Tuesday or passed "not enough votes"

On the evening of Tuesday (14th), the government suddenly sent a letter to the secretary of the subcommittee, stating that it would return to the original practice of "making first and then reviewing", that is, abandoning the amendments to the "gathering restriction order" and "mask order" that do not need to be reviewed by the Legislative Council.

The source estimated that the government may find that "there are not enough votes", or even find that there are legal problems, so the government has responded to what it has always done.

It is understood that MPs had already prepared a speech with "full firepower" and "everyone is going to make trouble", but since the government no longer revises it and "knows how to turn back to the shore", it has also been changed to softer words.

Rare government amendments cannot be voted on after the 2013 "milk restriction order"

This time, after the "Milk Restriction Order" in 2013, it was rare for the government to make amendments that could not be voted on. That year, the second reading of the Budget was considered until 9 p.m., and many MPs were not present. People's Power MP Chen Zhiquan requested 15 minutes before the end of the meeting. The number of people was counted, and in the end the number of people was insufficient and the meeting was suspended. The revision of the "milk restriction order" that was originally to be reviewed by the government and parliamentarians could not be voted on as scheduled, so that the original "milk restriction order" continued to take effect.

However, this incident, together with the earlier reorganization of the Environment Bureau to open 7 directorate posts, all occurred in the Legislative Council after the "improvement of the electoral system." Just think about it", and some congressmen directly scolded: "I thought we were asking for his stamp!"

Gathering Restriction Order|The government intends to directly announce the restriction on gatherings to adjust the number of parliamentarians to approve bypassing the Legislative Council without respecting the structural reorganization︱Environmental Bureau's application for 7 directorate positions He was criticized for not following the procedures and the government withdrew Chen Keqin: respect the Legislative Council

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2022-06-15

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