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.