LegCo's closure may delay key HK public welfare bills

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is expected to have a significant setback in approval of issues related to the public due to the forced closure of the city's legislature after damage from a violent break-in by protesters on Monday night, LegCo leaders said on Thursday.

The closure will put on hold deliberations on 40 items, most of which affect people's lives, according to legislator and Finance Committee Chairman Chan Kin-por. Items to be discussed by the Legislative Council's Finance Committee involve over HK$70 billion ($9 billion) in appropriations, including issues of public health and public housing, he said.

Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, president of the Legislative Council, announced the legislature's temporary closing on Thursday, attributing it to the extensive damage to fire safety, security and communication systems inside the council building. The chambers are to remain closed until October, when a new legislative year starts.