25 January 2005

Dear Fellow Engineers

Walkout to protest against some legislators' persistent rule violation

At the start of the 19 January 2005 LegCo main session meeting, 25 LegCo members stood up for a minute's silence for Mr Zhao Ziyang, despite an earlier ruling against it already made by the LegCo President, Mrs Rita Fan.

The general public is aware that, through the media, some legislators have been persistently and purposely violating the rules of procedures of Legislative Council meetings since the beginning of this legislative session. As a show of discontent over repeated misconduct and disrespect to the LegCo rules, over 30 legislators decided to walk out the 19 January 2005 meeting and not to attend the meeting again.

Indeed, the irresponsible actions of those who repeatedly do not respect LegCo rules lead to disruption of regular meetings and waste other members' precious time. As a basic principle, all members of the Legislative Council must observe its rules and regulations which have been prepared and agreed by all Members. Otherwise, there will be no rule at all. The legislature will simply descend into chaos and it just cannot function!

It is therefore imperative for LegCo members to send a clear message, i.e. lawmakers must follow ‘rules and procedures' of the Legislative Council .

Yours

　　　(signed)
Ir Dr the Hon Raymond HO Chung-tai