Hong Kong legislators block government budget

Mar 10, 2011, 2:51 GMT

Hong Kong - The Hong Kong government Thursday faced financial paralysis after legislators blocked the government's 60-billion-Hong Kong-dollar (7.7-billion-US-dollar) budget proposals.

In a political development unprecedented since the city returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, its government failed to win enough support to release the finances for its spending plans from April 1.

Pro-democracy legislators abstained from Wednesday evening's vote while lawmakers who normally support the Beijing-appointed administration failed to turn out for the vote in sufficient numbers.

Many of the government-supporting legislators were in Beijing for a session of China's National People's Congress, leaving the 'yes' camp two votes short of the 19 needed.

The failure of the budget vote means the Hong Kong administration has no operational budget from April 1, although it would try to rally supporters for a fresh vote next Wednesday.

However, the voting fiasco is a major embarrassment for the Hong Kong government, which has been heavily criticized for its budget proposals which many say do not do enough to help the city's poor.

Between 6,000 and 10,000 people joined a protest against the government budget Sunday which ended in scuffles between demonstrators and police using tear gas and more than 100 arrests.

Pro-democracy legislator Fred Li said: 'We are all very surprised. In the history of Hong Kong, the legislature has never voted against this expenditure resolution.'

Veteran pro-government legislator Rita Fan said: 'If there is no money on April 1, all the government departments have to stop working. Who will suffer? It is the general public.'

The political impasse follows mounting public unrest over wealthy Hong Kong's widening rich-poor divide and the perceived failure of the administration to help the less well-off.

Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule in 1997 under a 'one country, two systems' arrangement that allows for partial democracy. Half its 60-seat legislature is directly elected.

Read more about HongKong Politics