Hong Kong’s budget for 2019-20 passed comfortably in Legco, despite opposition objections and criticisms of a lack of vision
- The budget was passed by 44 to 15 after 50 hours of debate, with five pan-democrats voting with the government
- All 56 amendments put forward by the pan-democrats were rejected, including one that sought to cut Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s salary
Hong Kong lawmakers gave their seal of approval to Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s administration’s budget for 2019-20 on Thursday afternoon after a total of 50 hours’ debate, with the opposition pan-democrats using the discussion to berate Lam for her handling of the controversial extradition bill.
The government budget, presented by Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, was passed by a vote of 44 to 15, including five “yes” votes from the pan-democrats. It marked the third time since 2008 that the government has been able to secure more than 40 “yes” votes in the 70-member legislature for a budget.
All the amendments put forward by pan-democrats, including one that sought to cut Lam’s pay, were vetoed.
Among those in the opposition camp who had voted “yes” to the budget included such moderate members as Ip Kin-yuen of the education sector, Kenneth Leung of the accountancy sector, Dr Pierre Chan of the medical sector, Joseph Lee Kok-long of the health services sector, and Charles Mok of the information and technology sector.
Legislative Council president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen had set aside 38 hours for the budget debate and it ended up taking about 50 hours to complete, eight hours more than last year.
Leung also allowed 56 of the 156 amendments submitted by 16 pan-democrats to be put forward for debate and vote.
