Chief Executive CY Leung has urged pan-democratic lawmakers to stop filibustering the funding request to form the Innovation & Technology Bureau.
Speaking to the media today, he said the formation of the bureau has already been passed by the Legislative Council. However, he said some legislators are trying to filibuster its progress.
"It has been passed by the Establishment Subcommittee. Now it is with the Finance Committee, and we are prepared to answer questions raised by members of the Finance Committee, and we are prepared to listen to views and comments of members of the Finance Committee, but we do not need, and Hong Kong does not need, filibustering, and filibustering is being mounted by a few, by a handful of opposition members for the purpose of opposing the Government, and they should be held accountable."
He said these legislators should explain to the public why the bureau should not be formed from the finance point of view.
"Anything outside of finance raised by members of the Finance Committee, it will be patently obvious they are just a means of filibustering, frustrating the Government."
He said forming the new bureau will ease the Commerce & Economic Development Bureau's workload and help boost economic development, without which the Government cannot deal with social issues such as housing, poverty, ageing society and environmental protection.
"We need a strong and growing economy to do this, and we need the Commerce & Economic Development Bureau to focus on economic development. Matters relating to innovation and technology should belong to a separate bureau, so it is important that we have this Innovation & Technology Bureau."
