Legislative Council President Tsang Yok-sing yesterday presents the work report of the council over the past LegCo session. China Daily

HONG KONG: What many view as disruptive behavior of some lawmakers, President of Legislative Council (LegCo) Jasper Tsang Yok-sing has characterized as a reflection of Hong Kong's diversification.

He added that these noteworthy outbursts in the chamber do not reflect the prevailing climate.

Over the past LegCo session, Tsang said he found legislators cooperative and orderly and meetings well-controlled.

The late enrollment of Raymond Wong Yuk-man, chairman of the League of Social Democrats, Tsang said, underscored the party's vigorous opposition to the government, particularly when a banana was thrown at Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen during the policy address.

"I don't think my job is more difficult than the former LegCo President, as some of the lawmakers were once protesting in the public stand. The president just dealt with them in a different way," the LegCo president said.

He agreed a proportion of the public supports the behavior of the opposition. Lawmakers, he said, need to reflect their constituencies.

Yet he also thought this may not conform to some community views on executive-legislative relations.

Tsang said the LegCo culture will not be immutable but will follow the pace of the society.

"For instance the dressing requirement of male lawmakers has changed over the years. But anyway, legislators must strictly obey the Rules of Procedures. They are not allowed to break the order in the chamber," he affirmed.

The LegCo passed 11 of the 25 bills introduced by the government during the 2008-09 session. It also completed scrutiny of 144 items of subsidiary legislation tabled through negative vetting procedures.

In the face of intense discussion during LegCo meetings, Tsang said the executive-legislative relations did not get worse.

"The role of LegCo is to reflect the public opinions to help the government improve their policy making," Tsang said. "The discussion in the chamber is indeed a proactive interactive process."

Being the LegCo president for the first time, Tsang thought the work in the past nine months is less difficult than expected.

The former chairman of Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) knew it is challenging for him to be perceived to be impartial by other lawmakers.

As the only DAB legislator on the Island, Tsang added it is rather tough to strike a balance between serving his electors and performing the role of LegCo President.

(HK Edition 07/14/2009 page1)