‘Urgent matter’ stopped me voting on same-sex rights bill: Hong Kong’s Stanley Ng
Ng was the only lawmaker also sitting on Executive Council who failed to attend vote for Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill
Veteran Hong Kong lawmaker Stanley Ng Chau-pei has said he was unable to vote on an ill-fated same-sex partnership bill due to a personal emergency, in response to questions about his absence despite being a member of a key decision-making body.
Ng, president of the Federation of Trade Unions, was the only lawmaker also sitting on the Executive Council who failed to attend the vote for the Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill on Wednesday.
The proposed legislation was eventually voted down by the Legislative Council.
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Hong Kong lawmakers vote down bill recognising same-sex partnerships
Following the bill’s veto, Exco convenor Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said members of the top decision-making body should vote for government policies based on the principle of collective responsibility, unless they are not in Hong Kong.
Those who failed to do so should explain their decision to the city’s leader, she added.
Ng said on Thursday that he regretted his absence.
“Of course, I regret it very much that I could not participate in the vote,” he said. “I really had an urgent matter yesterday, so I took a day off.”
Asked if he had explained his absence to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, Ng said he had done so.