Hong Kong lawmakers unanimously approve bill for tougher misconduct penalties

Hong Kong lawmakers have unanimously given the green light for a bill that will expand the scope of financial penalties targeting legislators suspended for misconduct, as part of efforts to better monitor their performance.

Eighty-eight lawmakers on Wednesday voted for the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) (Amendment) Bill during a 36-minute session that included speeches from four legislators and Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki.

The amendment will allow Legco to withhold pay and allowances from suspended lawmakers for reasons other than those specified in the existing Rules of Procedure.

“This is precisely another example of Legco strengthening its self-governance with higher standards. It fully reflects the strong advantages of the ‘patriots administering Hong Kong’ principle,” said Chan, the city’s No 2 official.

“[The new rules] will help lawmakers perform their duties more efficiently, enhance the efficiency and transparency of the council, and allow Legco to better perform its constitutional duties.”

All 89 of the city’s legislators attended the meeting. All of them gave a green light to the amendment, with the exception of Legco President Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, who typically abstains from voting to maintain impartiality.

The new rules will take effect when the new Legco term starts on January 1, next year.