Basic Law is being used to limit lawmakers’ powers

Ng Kuok Cheong commented on last week’s rejection by the Legislative Assembly (AL) president, Ho Iat Seng, of the proposal by Gabriel Tong to “reinterpret” the Land Law.
“Even if I don’t agree with the content of the proposal I can’t agree with the fact that  the president [of the AL] wants to stop it,” Ng said. “I do not agree with some regulations in the Macau Basic Law that create too many limitations for the lawmakers for their law proposals. I can’t agree with this principal,” he added, referring to the fact that the Basic Law states that all law proposals that are considered to run contrary to government policy should seek consent from the Chief Executive before being discussed at the AL. The lawmaker argues that the referred principal “is being used by the AL presidency to stop Mr Tong’s proposal.”