Broadcasts of Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo) proceedings should carry viewer/listener warnings. May I suggest the following: "May contain strong language and some scenes viewers may find disturbing". I ask myself the question - "How could a legislature have gone so wrong?" I believe Hong Kong citizens might have doubts over the integrity of their elected legislature with all the shenanigans going on.

To begin with, despite clear guidelines in its rules of procedure, some legislators blatantly display their disrespect for the seriousness of the occasion and the LegCo president. In Britain, when attending meetings all men must dress in business attire, both in parliament and in local council chambers throughout the country. I still remember that in the 1990s when my local council chamber had no air-conditioning, male members had to seek the permission of the mayor before they could even remove their jackets. I humbly suggest LegCo should look into updating its rules in order to uphold higher standards.

Secondly, why are legislators permitted to carry placards, banners and even fruit into the chamber? This chamber is the venue for debate on proposed legislation which affects the well-being of the citizens they represent. It should therefore be treated with respect. Legislators have every right to make their views and objections known in the chamber, but only verbally, not physically. Perhaps they feel they do not have a strong enough case to make and need to rely on gimmicks to accomplish their job.

I guess if the president asked for cameras to be switched off as soon as members entered the chamber with their props, it would immediately stop such showmanship and disrespectful activities.

Legislators, like everyone else, have the right to participate in lawful demonstrations and protests at designated demonstration locations. But they should not be permitted to abuse their position as legislators in the chamber with such an unruly and demeaning manner. Furthermore, offenders should be given verbal warnings by the president and repeat offenders should be barred from the chamber for a fixed number of sittings at the president's discretion.

Different political groupings in LegCo should have their respective whips to enforce group discipline as well as ensure members undertake the duties they were elected to undertake. Members who are excluded from debate or fail to participate in voting should seriously consider whether they have fulfilled their duties as elected representatives. Diligent whips and group leaders should carry out performance reviews with their members to ensure they are doing their jobs properly.

I have not heard of a legislature whose elected representatives are allowed to come and go as they please and pay scant notice to either their own political party or the electorate.

Thirdly, I notice that filibustering by "pan-democrat" legislators is on the increase. Scrutiny of the executive is what legislators of all parties were elected to do. However, the act of filibustering only delays LegCo's decision-making process. Non-decision and delays only brings hardship to citizens they were elected to serve. What an irony.

Filibustering has so far resulted in a wasteful increase in public expenditure. Delays in much needed services and developments in the SAR, and most importantly, these frustrating and negative acts ultimately deter young people from taking an interest in politics.

Finally, although there are rules of procedure, house rules and declarations of interest for LegCo members to follow, their details and implementation are debatable. For example, it makes a mockery of the requirement for members to register their personal interests as some members have nil returns since they were last elected into office.

As far as members' declarations of interest are concerned, there are deficiencies if one compares LegCo's register with that of the London Assembly. In London, assembly members are required to declare financial contributions or sponsorship in kind likely to cause conflict of interest. They are also required to disclose any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation practiced for profit or gain to themselves personally and, or by their partners. Then they have to declare any sponsorships, contracts, land ownership, licenses, corporate tenancies and securities. They also have to declare gifts and hospitality.

Sadly, this level of transparency and openness is missing from LegCo. Scrutiny needs tightening in this respect.

The Basic Law establishes quite explicitly the standards expected of members elected to serve in LegCo. I believe the time is right to tighten up the rule books before the next LegCo elections in 2016, not to mention that it will add value to the functioning of the current one.

The author is director of the Chinese in Britain Forum. He was the first-ever Chinese British citizen to be elected mayor of the Greater London Borough of Redbridge (2009-10) and served as a member of the city council for over 10 years.

(HK Edition 02/16/2015 page10)