Legco blocks Hong Kong public hearing to discuss controversial proposal to change make-up of Chinese University’s governing council
- One lawmaker behind bill says he fears public hearing would lead to ‘attacks on individuals’; Legco members opt for written statements instead
- Others, however, insist a public hearing would be open and transparent and ask if university has had chance to properly discuss proposal
Hong Kong lawmakers on Friday denied requests for a public hearing to discuss a controversial bill designed to restructure Chinese University’s governing body, and one said he feared it could lead to “attacks on individuals”.
“The reform of Chinese University’s governance, and even its school members, have always been of great concern in society and are quite political,” lawmaker Bill Tang Ka-piu, one of the three legislators on the council who put forward the proposal, told the meeting.
“If there is a public hearing, I’m afraid people will attack individuals or things they don’t like, rather than reviewing whether the provisions are satisfactory or what needs to be changed.”
But fellow lawmaker Doreen Kong Yuk-foon said a public hearing would be more open and transparent.
