Blame game begins as Hong Kong copyright bill shelved indefinitely
Commerce minister Greg So blasts filibustering by pan-democrats, who counter that government failed to incorporate their suggestions
The copyright bill at the centre of a months-long filibuster marked by disagreements between internet-freedom activists and media businesses has been effectively shelved, with the commerce minister agreeing to put an end to the legislative processes on Friday.
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Greg So Kam-leung said the administration would not relaunch consultations over the copyright law during the rest of its term. Dismissing claims that he should bear political responsibility for the legislative failure, So put the blame on the filibuster launched by pan-democrats.
READ MORE: Five reasons the Hong Kong copyright bill failed
The government rearranged the order of its legislative business, placing the copyright bill at the end of its agenda of items. So said it was nearly impossible for the Legislative Council to return to the bill given the limited time before September’s election.
But Legco president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing said that technically meant the bill was “still on the agenda”.
The victory for pan-democrats and internet users who were distrustful of the bill’s objective and implications concluded a heated political battle. Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014 was the result of more than a decade of controversy stemming from loopholes in the existing law that made it difficult to fight piracy on the internet.
Despite a victory for their filibuster attempt, the pan-democrats called the government’s decision to stall the bill a “lose-lose situation”, lambasting So for not incorporating their suggested amendments for them to pass the law.
