The Government will withdraw the Copyright Amendment Bill if it is not passed by the Legislative Council next week, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Gregory So announced today.
Mr So told reporters that the decision was made after considering that LegCo has a backlog of more than 20 bills on livelihood and economic issues as well as the Budget to pass before the summer recess.
He noted that both the Law Society and Bar Association have called on lawmakers to pass the bill and that there was still time to scrutinise and approve it next week, if the pan-democrats stopped filibustering.
Mr So pointed out that the present package contains a consensus which took a long time to reach, adding that some issues supported by the pan-democrats have not gone through the necessary public consultation.
He also said some lawmakers had paralysed the legislature's business for their own political gain and that society is tired of such actions.
Mr So urged them pass the bill so that Hong Kong's netizens, online service platforms and copyright owners would not lose out.
