Lawmaker to call for Legco to delay Tuen Mun landfill debate

A legislator is planning to propose that lawmakers defer indefinitely Friday’s discussion and possible vote on a controversial proposal to fund a study on the expansion of the Tuen Mun landfill.

Democratic Party’s Wu Chi-wai said he would raise a motion to abort the debate, scheduled for the finance committee meeting in the Legislative Council on Friday afternoon, concerning the government’s request for HK$35 million to fund the study.

The funding request proposal has met strong opposition from political parties and residents who say Tuen Mun is home to a number of noxious facilities and cannot take anymore.

Ten Tuen Mun residents have been on a hunger strike outside the Legco building in Admiralty since Thursday.

Another lawmaker, “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung has filed hundreds of amendments in a filibuster also aimed at getting the government to withdraw the proposal.

Wu, who has also prepared 40 amendments, said the debate was expected to be long and it would be better for all if the government postponed it to an unspecified later time so other proposals would not be held up.