In a move that will no doubt crush the spirits of many Hongkongers, LegCo passed the controversial and much-protested “Internet Article 23” bill today, according to Apple Daily.
The bill was passed with 37 votes, while 25 LegCo members voted in opposition.
After multiple delays caused by no-shows and filibusters, a decision was finally reached on the bill, which has courted comparisons to Article 23 for its perceived erosion of Hongkongers’ cyber freedom.
However, the Labour Party’s Cyd Ho cited Item 55, subclause 1A of LegCo’s Rules of Procedure, which says:
“When a motion for the second reading of a bill has been agreed to, the bill shall stand committed to a committee of the whole Council, unless –
the Council, on a motion which may be moved without notice by any Member immediately after the bill has been read the second time, commit the bill to a select committee.”
What all that waffle means is that Cyd Ho is proposing a special committee be set up to discuss redrafting the bill, in which case a third reading would be held.
Oh, the joys!
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