Hong Kong copyright bill debate enters final 48 hours after latest compromise bid fails
Commerce minister Greg So rejects pan-democrat bid to introduce a defence of limited fair use – first proposed by So
Debate on the contentious copyright bill has entered its final 48 hours following failed negotiations between the government and pan-democrats as well as ongoing filibuster attempts on Wednesday.
Commerce minister Greg So Kam-leung turned down what pan-democrats called the “last best chance” to resolve the political impasse two days before a self-imposed deadline on Friday, when the government will drop the bill that was first proposed a decade ago if it is not endorsed.
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“The proposal of [limited fair use] from pan-democrats is ridiculous,” So said. “It was I who first floated this possibility [months ago] but it was rejected.”
He was speaking after a brief meeting with three pan-democrats, including the Civic Party’s Dennis Kwok and Charles Mok and Kenneth Leung of the Professional Commons.
Kwok, in response, lamented So’s inability to bridge the gap between copyright owners and internet users throughout months of deadlock.
“Isn’t it ridiculous given that even So and the government agreed to the proposal in the first place,” he said.
Mok questioned whether it would be necessary for the government to satisfy copyright owners in every respect, saying it could have its own mind if it deemed the proposal beneficial to society.