Albert Cheng

Opinion | To save Hong Kong, pro-democracy lawmakers must paralyse Legco and frustrate the government

The Legislative Council is becoming a rubber stamp for Carrie Lam’s administration. Pro-democracy lawmakers must adopt a strategy of ‘if we burn, you burn with us’ and make pro-establishment types feel the cost of continuing to support Lam

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Pro-democracy lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting stands up and protests after Chief Executive Carrie Lam retreated twice from the Legislative Council lectern on October 16. Carrie Lam later delivered her policy address by video. Photo: AFP

Albert Cheng

Published: 6:15am, 18 Oct 2019Updated: 6:49am, 18 Oct 2019

A new session of the Legislative Council has begun and Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has delivered her policy address. Last week, Chan Kin-po was reelected as chairman of the Finance Committee after hours of filibustering by the pro-democracy camp.

As the pro-establishment camp holds the majority of Legco seats, it is expected to manipulate the council by dominating the positions of chairman and vice-chairman of all committees. Hence it is a convention that, before Legco resumes, the two camps negotiate a way to split the positions. Since there are more pro-establishment legislators, they usually take up chairman roles, and pro-democracy legislators fill in as deputies. Other parliaments in democratic countries have similar arrangements.

But the situation in Hong Kong this year is completely different. The anti-extradition bill movement has swept Hong Kong since June 9 and still shows no signs of abating. Legco was forced to adjourn after protesters seized the council complex on July 1.

Public opinion was on the side of the protesters. Although Lam eventually withdrew the bill, it did not defuse the situation. The protests have evolved into an anti-government movement.

Along with Lam, the pro-establishment legislators have become public enemies. This year, they are seeking to take control of all committees to diminish the influence of the opposition. Should this happen, Legco would be a mere rubber stamp for Lam’s administration.

What should the pro-democracy camp do? For starters, it should stop sticking to its old principles and taking part in council meetings obediently, or it will be perceived as hypocritical by those taking part in or supporting the movement.