Paul Yeung laments the bad behavior by some opposition lawmakers in the legislature and says any repeat of such conduct will hurt HK society

The extradition law amendment bill has raised public concern over the past few weeks - not only because of the bill itself but also because of the bizarre behavior of some Legislative Council (LegCo) members inside the legislature. After many delays in the bills committee responsible for its vetting, the legislative process of the bill is likely to experience a new twist as the government has decided to submit the bill directly to a full LegCo meeting next month for deliberation, and thus bypassing the bills committee. The move could possibly further inflame tensions inside the legislature.

Indeed, tensions increased after lawmakers from rival political camps clashed on May 11 when they were trying to gain control of the bills committee. The "extremely disorderly and uncontrollable conditions", as described by the government, has not only damaged the reputation of LegCo but raised concerns about its ability to continue with normal operations. Indeed, Abraham Shek Lai-him, the committee's presiding member and a veteran lawmaker, said: "I have never seen such a hostile situation in my 19 years here as a member of the LegCo."

More worrying are some negative developments arising from the controversy. These are also threatening normal operations of the legislature.

Firstly, there is the notion that the opposition camp has to take radical action in order to get control of the LegCo. This is not true. Control of a legislature can only be gained via lawful and democratic means, rather than through violent acts. According to the Basic Law, the LegCo is the legislature of the Hong Kong SAR. As the symbol of democracy in Hong Kong, the normal functioning of the LegCo is exceptionally crucial to the city's development. A dysfunctional LegCo will lose the authority it needs to exercise its constitutional power.

Secondly, there has been unfair criticism of the Legislative Council Secretariat. Before the clash on May 11, James To Kun-sun from the opposition camp had been unseated as the presiding lawmaker in the bill committee responsible for vetting the amendment bill. Kenneth Chen Wei-on, secretary-general of the LegCo Secretariat, explained that his decision to ask members of the bills committee for a written response to a LegCo House Committee decision to unseat James To Kun-sun was based on LegCo's rule book and conventions. But the opposition camp keeps on questioning the secretariat's political neutrality. However, the political neutrality of the secretariat should not be questioned too easily. The task of the LegCo Secretariat is clear. It is to provide efficient administrative and research support for the LegCo. The secretary-general is a clerk to the LegCo and responsible to the chairman of the commission for the administration of the Secretariat, who can be a member of any political party. The neutrality of the secretariat should not be questioned.

Meanwhile, many youngsters have got caught up in radical behavior against the LegCo. We can easily recall a sad episode in 2014, when dozens of opponents of the government's development plan for the northeastern New Territories breached security cordons and then stormed the LegCo building. It is unfortunate that some young people became victims of political maneuvers by politicians who clearly have an axe to grind. The conviction of offenders in this case reminds us that rule of law remains a core value of Hong Kong, and that any unlawful act - especially those threatening the security of the LegCo - cannot be tolerated. We should not allow any more young people to become victims of such disruptive political tactics.

The government plans to fast-track amendments to the bill, but the opposition camp is determined to derail it with filibustering tactics. Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu said the government was forced to do this as the bills committee tasked with vetting the bill became dysfunctional. Tensions between the rival camps are escalating. The LegCo is going to review its security arrangements after the clash on May 11 to see if access to the building needs to be tightened. It is worrying there is no way to stop the opposition camp from interrupting LegCo meetings and disrupting the legislature.

Bayard Rustin, a US social movement leader, once said: "If we desire a society of peace, then we cannot achieve such a society through violence. If we desire a society that is democratic, then democracy must become a means as well as an end." It is expected that the opposition camp will call for a radical movement like the one which occurred in 2014. However, we should understand that if the LegCo again falls into disarray, this will be a fatal blow to Hong Kong people. Whatever our views on the extradition law amendment bill are, we should always adhere to a bottom line belief that the LegCo should never be harmed in any way.

(HK Edition 05/23/2019 page9)