Tech bureau, lead-in-water scandal and private columbariums among heated debates as Hong Kong's Legislative Council reconvene
A series of "hot potato" issues await lawmakers at the start of their fourth and last year term.
After months when political reform dominated, the legislature faces another tough year as it addresses a series of "hot potato" issues - from the long-debated innovation and technology bureau to private columbariums.
As 70 lawmakers reconvene to mark the beginning of the last year of their four-year term, pan-democrats will put forward a motion to invoke the Legislative Council's special powers to investigate this summer's discovery of lead in water at public housing estates.
Information technology sector lawmaker Charles Mok said he believed funding for the bureau - against which radical pan-democrats staged a marathon filibuster before the summer recess - would be passed this session as it was first on the agenda.
"It is time for the lawmakers to focus on ways to monitor the bureau after its creation to prevent it from … benefiting only a small group of people as some suggested," said Mok.
Another issue of concern for Mok is the Copyright (Amendment) Bill, which was shelved amid public opposition, with internet users fearing it would leave parodists open to prosecution. A set of amendments was suggested last year to increase protection for parodists, and lawmakers will vote on it soon.
Noting the bill's controversial nature, Mok said he found the revised amendments proposed by the government last year addressed most of the internet users' concerns and hoped they would not rush to oppose it.
Meanwhile, the Private Columbaria Bill, which aims to tighten regulation of the fast-growing burial niche business, will also appear on the Legco agenda soon. Civic Party lawmaker Dr Kenneth Chan Ka-lok admitted it would be very complicated protecting consumers' rights without causing too much hardship for the businesses.
Democrat legislator Helena Wong, who first exposed the citywide lead-in-water scandal in July, said lawmakers should launch a thorough investigation. Pan-democrats will, for the third time, put forward a motion to appoint a select committee for the inquiry.
"We urge pro-establishment lawmakers not to blindly support the government and sacrifice the interests of affected residents," Wong said. "If the government thinks it did nothing wrong, it shouldn't be afraid of the Legislative Council's investigation."
