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4th Legislative Council of Hong Kong

2008–2012 Legislative Council of Hong Kong


2008–2012 Legislative Council of Hong Kong

FieldValue
name4th Legislative Council of
Hong Kong
imageLegislative Council Building HK.jpg
image_size200px
bodyLegislative Council
countryHong Kong
meeting_placeLegislative Council Building (2008–11)
Legislative Council Complex (2011–12)
term1 October 2008 – 30 September 2012
before[3rd Legislative Council](3rd-legislative-council-of-hong-kong)
after[5th Legislative Council](5th-legislative-council-of-hong-kong)
website[legco.gov.hk/](http://legco.gov.hk/)
membership160 members
control1Pro-Beijing camp
chamber1_leader1_typePresident
chamber1_leader1Tsang Yok-sing (DAB)

Hong Kong Legislative Council Complex (2011–12)

Five resigning democrat legislators at a rally on 27 January 2010.

The Fourth Legislative Council of Hong Kong was the fourth meeting of the legislative branch of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. The membership of the LegCo is based on the 2008 election. The term of the session is from 1 October 2008 to 30 September 2012, during the second half of the Donald Tsang's administration and first two months of the Leung Chun-ying's term in office. The meeting place was moved from the Legislative Council Building to the new built Legislative Council Complex in 2011. The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong remained the largest party with 10 seats. Notable newcomers to the Legislative Council included Regina Ip, Priscilla Leung, Wong Yuk-man, Tanya Chan, and Paul Tse.

Major events

  • 8 October 2008: The DAB member Jasper Tsang Yok-sing who was widely assumed to b a member of the Chinese Communist Party, something he would neither confirm nor deny, was elected President of the Legislative Council.
  • 15 October 2008: Annual policy address of the Chief Executive Donald Tsang. During the address, the League of Social Democrats legislator Wong Yuk-man hurled a banana in the direction of Donald Tsang. The three LSD members were ejected from the chamber for the act.
  • 18 December 2009 – 16 January 2010: Pro-democracy legislators filibustered against the financing for the constructions of the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link by raising many questions on very specific issues, delaying the passing of the bill from 18 December 2009 to 16 January 2010. On the evenings the meetings were held, the Legislative Council Building was surrounded by thousands of anti-high-speed rail protesters.
  • 26 January 2010 – 16 May 2010: The legislators from the Civic Party (Alan Leong and Tanya Chan) and League of Social Democrats (Wong Yuk-man, Albert Chan and Leung Kwok-hung) resigned and launched a direct by-election for all five constituencies in which they called a de facto referendum on 16 May 2010.
  • 23—25 June 2010: The revised 2012 electoral reform package was passed with absolute majority supported by the Democratic Party in the LegCo after hours of hot debates. The resolution for the chief executive in 2012 from 800 to 1,200 members, won endorsement at 2.20 pm on 24 June by the legislature by 46 votes to 13. Pan-democrats who supported the proposals included eight from the Democratic Party, Joseph Lee Kok-long and Frederick Fung of the ADPL. James To, who had earlier expressed misgivings about giving his support, voted in favour. The 'Amendment to method for forming the Hong Kong Legislative Council' was approved by LegCo at 13:30 on 25 June, with 46 votes in favour and 12 against. 'Longhair' Leung Kwok-hung was ejected from the chamber just prior to the vote. Thousands of protestors from both for and against the proposal gathered outside of the LegCo building.
  • 2—17 May 2012: Albert Chan and Wong Yuk-man of People Power submitted 1306 amendments altogether to the Legislative Council (Amendment) Bill 2012, by which the government attempted to forbid resigning lawmakers from participating in by-elections. Leung Kwok-hung of the League of Social Democrats and Andrew Cheng also participated in the filibustering. Miriam Lau of the Liberal Party carried out a 30-hour hunger strike to voice her opposition against such act of obstructionism and waste of public coffers. The legislative council carried on multiple overnight debates on the amendments with the support of the pro-Establishment camp. On morning of 17 May 2012, Jasper Tsang, President of the Legco adopt Article 92 of the Standing Order, which allows the president follow foreign parliament rules for unregulated behaviours to terminate the debate. In the end, all amendments were defeated and the Bill was passed.

Major legislation

Enacted

Proposed

  • Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2011

Chief Executive Election and Legislative Council (Amendment) Bill 2010

Following the reform plan passed in June, the LegCo passed the Chief Executive (Amendment) Bill on 3 March 2011 and Legislative Council (Amendment) Bill on 5 March with the Democratic Party voted for the bill. The membership of the Election Committee to return the Chief Executive increased from 800 to 1,200, while the number of seats in the LegCo rose by 10 to 70. Five of the new seats, known as 'super lawmakers', would be in the district councils functional constituency, where 3.2 million people would be eligible to vote.

Legislative Council (Amendment) Bill 2012

Main article: Legislative Council (Amendment) Bill 2012

The 2010 by-election launched by the pro-democracy legislators was strongly criticised by the Beijing government. The government tried to plug the "loophole" by passing the vacancies on to runners-up in the previous election, which was strongly opposed by the legal experts as unconstitutional The pro-democracy camp was strongly opposed to the bill, as it was seen as depriving citizens of their political rights. At last, the government modified the bill to bar the resigning legislator from running again for six months. People Power legislators started the filibuster against it but the bill was passed after President Tsang Yok-sing halted the debate.

Composition

AffiliationElectionAt dissolution
DABHK}}"Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong
HKFTU}}"Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions
The Alliance (Hong Kong)}}"Alliance/Professional Forum
Economic Synergy}}"Economic Synergy
LPHK}}"Liberal Party
Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions}}"Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions
New People's Party (Hong Kong)}}"New People's Party
12
**Total for pro-Beijing camp**
Democratic Party (Hong Kong)}}"Democratic Party
Civic Party}}"Civic Party
Labour Party (Hong Kong)}}"Labour Party
People Power (Hong Kong)}}"People Power
League of Social Democrats}}"League of Social Democrats
Neighbourhood and Worker's Service Centre}}"Neighbourhood and Worker's Service Centre
HKADPL}}"Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood
Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions}}"Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions
The Frontier (Hong Kong)}}"Frontier
Civic Act-up}}"Civic Act-up
Hong Kong Social Workers' General Union}}"Hong Kong Social Workers' General Union
1
**Total for pan-democracy camp**
**Total**
*Vacant*

Note: Italic represents organisations that still function but become under another affiliation.

Graphical representation of the Legislative Council

Pan-democracy camp (23) Pro-Beijing camp (37)

Leadership

OfficePartyOfficerConstituencySince
PresidentDAB[[File:Tsang Yok-sing.jpg80px]]Jasper Tsang Yok-singHong Kong Island

List of members

The following table is a list of LegCo members elected on 7 September 2008 in the order of precedence.

Members who did not serve throughout the term are italicised. New members elected since the general election are noted at the bottom of the page.

Key to changes since legislative election: :a = change in party allegiance :b = by-election :c = other change

GC/
FCConstituencyPortraitElected MembersElected PartyPolitical AlignmentBornOccupation(s)Assumed
Office
GCHong Kong Island[[File:Tsang Yok-sing.jpg90px]]DAB}}"DABPro-BeijingLegislative Councillor
GCNew Territories West[[File:Albert Ho 2014.jpg90px]]Democratic Party (Hong Kong)}}"DemocraticPan-democracySolicitor and Notary Public
Legislative Councillor
FCEngineering[[File:Blanksvg.svg90px]]The Alliance (Hong Kong)}}"AlliancePro-BeijingEngineer
GCNew Territories West[[File:Democrats-fail-to-regain-veto-power-3_(cropped).jpg90px]]{{sortnameLeeCheuk-yanLee, Cheuk-yan}}Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions}}"CTUaPan-democracy
FCFinance[[File:David_K.P._Li,_Chairman,_Bank_of_East_Asia_-_what_is_China's_impact_on_global_growth,_at_the_Horasis_Global_China_Business_Meeting_2009_-_Flickr_-_Horasis.jpg90px]]Independent (politician)}}"IndependentPro-BeijingBanker
GCKowloon East[[File:Li-Wah-ming.jpg90px]]Democratic Party (Hong Kong)}}"DemocraticPan-democracyLegislative Councillor
FCLegal[[File:Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee in March 2018.png90px]]Civic Party}}"CivicPan-democracyBarrister-at-law
GCKowloon West[[File:James_To_Kun-sun.jpg90px]]Democratic Party (Hong Kong)}}"DemocraticPan-democracySolicitor
FCEducation[[File:Cheung Man-kwong in 2017.jpeg90px]]{{nowrap{{sortnameCheungMan-kwongCheung, Man-kwong}}}}Democratic Party (Hong Kong)}}"Democratic/PTUPan-democracy
GCKowloon East[[File:Chan_Kam_Lam (cropped).jpg90px]]{{sortnameChanKam-lamChan, Kam-lam}}DAB}}"DABPro-Beijing
FCTextiles and Garment[[File:Liang_Liu_Rou_Fen_1_(cropped).JPG90px]]Liberal Party (Hong Kong)}}"LiberalaPro-BeijingCompany Director
GCNew Territories West[[File:Leung Yiu-chung 2017.jpg90px]]{{sortnameLeungYiu-chungLeung, Yiu-chung}}Neighbourhood and Worker's Service Centre}}"NWSCPan-democracy
FCCommercial (Second)[[File:HK Olympic Torch Relay Legislative Council Sidelights 02 (cropped).JPG90px]]Independent (politician)}}"IndependentPro-BeijingCompany Chairman
FCAgriculture and Fisheries[[File:Blanksvg.svg90px]]{{sortnameWongYung-kanWong, Yung-kan}}DAB}}"DABPro-Beijing
GCNew Territories East[[File:Lau_Kong-wah_2014.jpg90px]]{{sortnameLauKong-wahLau, Kong-wah}}DAB}}"DABPro-Beijing
FCHeung Yee Kuk[[File:Lau_Wong-fat_at_Victoria_Park_20100619 (cropped).jpg90px]]{{sortnameLauWong-fatLau, Wong-fat}}Liberal Party (Hong Kong)}}"LiberalaPro-Beijing
FCTransport[[File:Miriam_Lau_Kin_Yee.jpg90px]]Liberal Party (Hong Kong)}}"LiberalPro-BeijingSolicitor and Notary Public
GCNew Territories East[[File:Emily_Lau_Wai-hing_2018.jpg90px]]The Frontier (Hong Kong)}}"FrontieraPan-democracyLegislative Councillor
GCNew Territories East[[File:Andrew_Cheng_Ka-foo_Chopped.jpg90px]]Democratic Party (Hong Kong)}}"DemocraticaPan-democracySolicitor
FCSports, Performing Arts,
Culture and Publication[[File:Timothy Fok in 2009.jpeg90px]]Independent (politician)}}"IndependentPro-BeijingMerchant
GCNew Territories West[[File:Tam_Yiu-chung.jpg90px]]{{sortnameTamYiu-chungTam, Yiu-chung}}DAB}}"DABPro-Beijing
FCReal Estate and Construction[[File:Abraham_Shek.jpg90px]]The Alliance (Hong Kong)}}"AlliancePro-BeijingCompany Director
FCLabour[[File:Blanksvg.svg90px]]{{sortnameLiFung-yingLi, Fung-ying}}Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions}}"FLUPro-Beijing
FCCatering[[File:Tommy Cheung 2015.jpg90px]]Liberal Party (Hong Kong)}}"LiberalPro-BeijingMerchant
Legislative Councillor
GCNew Territories Westb[[File:Chan_Wai_Yip_Chopped.jpg90px]]**League of Social Democrats}}"LSDaPan-democracyLegislative Councillor
GCKowloon West[[File:Frederick Fung at Alliance for True Democracy.jpg90px]]Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood}}"ADPLPan-democracyLegislative Councillor
GCHong Kong Island[[File:香港民主黨公佈首份文件回應本土思潮1 (cropped).jpg90px]]Civic Party}}"CivicPan-democracySenior Counsel
FCWholesale and Retail[[File:Vincent_Fang_2015.jpg90px]]Liberal Party (Hong Kong)}}"LiberalPro-BeijingChief Executive
Managing Director
GCNew Territories West[[File:Wong_Kwok_Hing.jpg90px]]{{sortnameWongKwok-hingWong, Kwok-hing}}Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions}}"FTUPro-Beijing
GCNew Territories West[[File:Lee Wing Tat September 2015 (cropped).png90px]]{{sortnameLeeWing-tatLee, Wing-tat}}Democratic Party (Hong Kong)}}"DemocraticPan-democracy
FCHealth Services[[File:Joseph Lee Kok-long.jpg90px]]Independent}}"IndependentPan-democracyDean and Professor
FCCommercial (First)[[File:Jeffrey Lam.jpg90px]]Liberal Party (Hong Kong)}}"LiberalaPro-BeijingMerchant
FCIndustrial (First)[[File:Andrew Leung 2017.jpg90px]]Liberal Party (Hong Kong)}}"LiberalaPro-BeijingMerchant
GCKowloon Eastb[[File:Alan_Leong_2015.jpg90px]]**Civic Party}}"CivicPan-democracySenior Counsel
GCNew Territories Eastb[[File:Leung Kwok-hung 2005.jpg90px]]''{{sortnameLeungKwok-hungLeung, Kwok-hung}}''League of Social Democrats}}"LSDPan-democracy
GCNew Territories West[[File:Cheung Hok Ming (cropped).jpg90px]]{{sortnameCheungHok-mingCheung, Hok-ming}}DAB}}"DABPro-Beijing
FCImport and Export[[File:Wong Ting Kwong.jpg90px]]{{sortnameWongTing-kwongWong, Ting-kwong}}DAB}}"DABPro-Beijing
GCNew Territories East[[File:Ronny_Tong_2017.jpg90px]]Civic Party}}"CivicPan-democracySenior Counsel
FCFinancial Services[[File:Chim Pui Chung (cropped).JPG90px]]{{sortnameChimPui-chungChim, Pui-chung}}Independent (politician)}}"IndependentPro-Beijing
FCArchitectural, Surveying
and Planning[[File:HK_City_Hall_香港正形設計學校_Chingying_Institute_of_Visual_Arts_Design_Show_2010_劉秀成_Patrick_LAU_Sau-shing.JPG90px]]The Alliance (Hong Kong)}}"AlliancePro-BeijingArchitect
Professor
GCHong Kong Island[[File:Kam Nai Wai (cropped).jpg90px]]{{sortnameKamNai-waiKam, Nai-wai}}Democratic Party (Hong Kong)}}"DemocraticPan-democracy
GCHong Kong Island[[File:Cyd_Ho_at_January_2013_protest_(cropped).jpg90px]]Civic Act-up}}"Civic Act-upaPan-democracyPolitician
GCKowloon West[[File:Starry Lee Wai-king 2016.jpg90px]]DAB}}"DABPro-BeijingAccountant
FCIndustrial (Second)[[File:Blanksvg.svg90px]]{{sortnameLamTai-faiLam, Tai-fai}}Independent (politician)}}"IndependentPro-Beijing
GCNew Territories East[[File:Chan Hak-kan.png90px]]{{sortnameChanHak-kanChan, Hak-kan}}DAB}}"DABPro-Beijing
FCAccountancy[[File:財政司司長陳茂波17.jpg90px]]**cIndependent}}"IndependentPro-BeijingAccountant
FCInsurance[[File:Chan_Kin-por_2020.png90px]]{{sortnameChanKin-porChan, Kin-por}}Independent (politician)}}"IndependentPro-Beijing
GCHong Kong Islandb[[File:Tanya_Chan.jpg90px]]**Civic Party}}"CivicPan-democracyBarrister-at-law
GCKowloon West[[File:Priscilla Leung.jpg90px]]Independent (politician)}}"IndependentaPro-BeijingAssociate Professor
Barrister-at-law
FCMedical[[File:Blanksvg.svg90px]]{{sortnameLeungKa-lauLeung, Ka-lau}}Independent (politician)}}"IndependentNon-aligned
FCSocial Welfare[[File:Cheungkwokche (cropped).jpg90px]]{{sortnameCheungKwok-cheCheung, Kwok-che}}Hong Kong Social Workers' General Union}}"SWGU/ADPLaPan-democracy
GCNew Territories East[[File:Wong_Sing-chi_(cropped).jpg90px]]{{sortnameWongSing-chiWong, Sing-chi}}Democratic Party (Hong Kong)}}"DemocraticPan-democracy
GCKowloon East[[File:Wong Kwok-kin 2015.jpg90px]]{{sortnameWongKwok-kinWong, Kwok-kin}}Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions}}"FTUPro-Beijing
GCKowloon Westb[[File:Raymond Wong in HKBU 2015.jpg90px]]''{{sortnameWongYuk-manWong, Yuk-man}}''League of Social Democrats}}"LSDaPan-democracy
FCLabour[[File:葉偉明.JPG90px]]{{sortnameIpWai-mingIp, Wai-ming}}Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions}}"FTUPro-Beijing
FCDistrict Council[[File:Ip_Kwok_Him_(cropped).jpg90px]]{{sortnameIpKwok-himIp, Kwok-him}}DAB}}"DABPro-Beijing
GCHong Kong Island[[File:Regina Ip 2016.jpg90px]]Independent}}"IndependentaPro-BeijingChair of Savantas Policy Institute
FCLabour[[File:Blanksvg.svg90px]]{{sortnamePanPey-chyouPan, Pey-chyou}}Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions}}"FTUPro-Beijing
FCTourism[[File:Paul_Tse_in_Feb_2019.png90px]]Independent}}"IndependentPro-BeijingSolicitor
FCInformation Technology[[File:Samson Tam Wai Ho.jpg90px]]Independent}}"IndependentPro-BeijingCompany Director

By-election

  • 16 May 2010, Albert Chan, Leung Kwok-hung, and Wong Yuk-man from the League of Social Democrats and Alan Leong and Tanya Chan from the Civic Party re-elected to the LegCo after their resignation to call for a de facto referendum on universal suffrage.

Other changes

2008

  • Lau Wong-fat (Heung Yee Kuk), Jeffrey Lam (Commercial), Andrew Leung (Industrial) and Sophie Leung (Textiles and Garment) – Liberal Party members withdrawn on 8 October 2008, and later on founded a new group called Economic Synergy in 2009.
  • Priscilla Leung (Kowloon West) – joined the Professional Forum which was formed on 8 October 2008 by the members of the Alliance.
  • Emily Lau (New Territories East) – Convenor of the Frontier became a member of the Democratic Party when the groups merged on 23 November 2008.

2010

  • Andrew Cheng (New Territories East) – withdrawn from the Democratic Party to oppose the Party's decision of backing the controversial electoral reform proposals on 23 June 2010.

2011

  • Regina Ip (Hong Kong Island) – formed the New People's Party and became the chairman on 9 January 2011.
  • Wong Yuk-man (Kowloon West) and Albert Chan (New Territories West) – former chairman and one of the figureheads of the League of Social Democrats (LSD) left the Party on 23 January 2011 in disarray which left the LSD only one seat in the LegCo. On the same day, Wong and Chan formed a new group called People Power with the former supporters of the LSD.
  • Lee Cheuk-yan (New Territories West), Cyd Ho (Hong Kong Island) and Cheung Kwok-che (Social Welfare) – respectively represented the Confederation of Trade Unions, Civic Act-up, and Social Worker's General Union, founded the Labour Party on 18 December 2011.

2012

  • Paul Chan (Accountancy) – resigned on 27 July 2012 to take up principal official post as the Secretary for Development. No by-election was held to fill his vacant seat as there was a pending general election.

Committees

  • Finance Committee— Chair: Emily Lau
    • Establishment Subcommittee— Chair: Wong Yung-kan (2008—10), Margaret Ng (2010—12)
    • Public Works Subcommittee— Chair: Raymond Ho
  • Public Accounts Committee— Chair: Philip Wong
  • Committee on Members' Interests— Chair: Sophie Leung
  • House Committee— Chair: Miriam Lau
    • Parliamentary Liaison Subcommittee— Chair: Abraham Razack
  • Committee on Rules of Procedure— Chair: Tam Yiu-chung

Panels

  • Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services— Chair: Margaret Ng
  • Panel on Commerce and Industry— Chair: Vincent Fang Kang (2008—10), Wong Ting-kwong (2010—12)
  • Panel on Constitutional Affairs— Chair: Tam Yiu-chung
  • Panel on Development— Chair: Lau Wong-fat (2008—10), Patrick Lau (2010—12)
  • Panel on Economic Development— Chair: Jeffrey Lam
  • Panel on Education— Chair: Cyd Ho (2008—10), Starry Lee (2010—12)
  • Panel on Environmental Affairs— Chair: Audrey Eu (2008—10), Gary Chan (2010—12)
  • Panel on Financial Affairs— Chair: Chan Kam-lam
  • Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene— Chair: Fred Li (2008—10), Tommy Cheung (2010—12)
  • Panel on Health Services— Chair: Joseph Lee (2008—10), Leung Ka-lau (2010—12)
  • Panel on Home Affairs— Chair: Ip Kwok-him
  • Panel on Housing— Chair: Wong Kwok-hing (2008—10), Lee Wing-tat (2010—12)
  • Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting— Chair: Andrew Leung (2008—09), Samson Tam (2008—10), Wong Yuk-man (2010—12)
  • Panel on Manpower— Chair: Li Fung-ying (2008—10), Lee Cheuk-yan (2010—12)
  • Panel on Public Service— Chair: Lee Cheuk-yan (2008—10), Regina Ip (2010—12)
  • Panel on Security— Chair: Lau Kong-wah (2008—10), James To (2010—12)
  • Panel on Transport— Chair: Cheung Hok-ming (2008—10), Andrew Cheng (2010—12)
  • Panel on Welfare Services— Chair: Albert Chan (2008—09), Wong Sing-chi (2009—10), Cheung Kwok-che (2010—12)

References

References

  1. "DAB's Tsang still silent on communist membership".
  2. Tam, Aaron. (29 January 2009). "The politics of banana throwing". The Thunder Bird.
  3. [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB126315844550823775 Hong Kong Opposition to Rail Holds Off Vote], Wall Street Journal
  4. Cheung, Gary; Wong, Albert & Fung, Fanny (25 Jun 2010) "Cheers and jeers for political reform vote", ''South China Morning Post''
  5. link. (10 October 2012 ''The Standard'')
  6. Balfour, Frederik & Lui, Marco (25 Jun 2010). [http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-25/hong-kong-lawmakers-approve-tsang-s-election-plan-update1-.html "Hong Kong Lawmakers Approve Tsang’s Election Plan" (Update1)]{{dead link. (April 2023)
  7. (3 March 2011). "Chief executive election bill clears first hurdle in marathon debate". South China Morning Post.
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