Editorial | Despite concerns, let the money flow
- It is in Hong Kong’s interest for the Legislative Council to examine the details closely and pass the government budget expeditiously
The abrupt suspension last week of the annual ritual to give the government interim funding pending the final vote on the budget is not the first time that this has happened. Nor will it be the last.
The setback, fuelled by animosity from last year’s social unrest, does not bode well for a smooth passage of the budget this year. While further government efforts for political reconciliation are essential, bundling politics with public spending and people’s livelihood may just complicate the matter.
The standing procedure to advance 20 per cent of the annual budget, or HK$215 billion, was swiftly resumed following a recent change in the rules to curb filibustering.
But then the drama began, with a lawmaker seeking to halt the process, referring to concerns about a rise in police spending in the new financial year. And when there were too few members in the Legislative Council chamber to make the quorum, the meeting was forced to be adjourned.
This is not the first time the pan-democratic camp has sought to block or drag out the budgetary process. The cash advance was meant to ensure the government would not run out of money while waiting for approval for the budget, usually in April. Regrettably, what used to be a formality has become a flashpoint in recent years.
