More arguments as Hong Kong’s gridlocked House Committee meets for 16th time and again is unable to elect chair
- Former chairwoman Starry Lee vows not to bow to opposition demands that she drop her re-election bid
- Committee spends the latest meeting arguing over one non-binding resolution on security issues for election of chair
Arguments continued to rage in a meeting of a deadlocked committee in Hong Kong’s legislature on Friday, as a pro-establishment lawmaker vowed not to bow to opposition demands that she drop her bid to be re-elected chairwoman.
Over the past two weeks the key committee, which scrutinises bills introduced into Legco and decides when they are put to a final vote, has become the centrepiece of a fight between the opposition camp and Beijing’s offices that oversee the city’s affairs.
Beijing’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and the central government’s liaison office in the city last week accused pan-democrat Dennis Kwok, who is presiding over the committee, of misconduct by paralysing Legco with filibustering tactics since the start of the legislative session in October.
As deputy chairman of the committee in the last legislative session, Kwok has been able to take the reins because the previous chairwoman, Starry Lee Wai-king of the pro-Beijing bloc, stepped down to seek re-election, taking on 18 candidates, all from the rival camp.
