Legislative Council President Jasper Tsang Yok-sing said institutional arrangements - rather than individuals - were the cause of longstanding friction between the legislative and executive branches.

Tsang spent his birthday two months ago in the Legislative Council during a budget filibuster - the fourth consecutive budget bill to get the treatment by radical members from the opposition camp. The entire opposition camp had been engaged in some previous filibusters.

The sour relationship between the administration and the legislature was vividly illustrated during the electoral reform exercise, vetoed last month by 28 lawmakers. Tsang said neither the opposition camp nor government officials had engaged in a dialogue constructive enough to develop a consensus.

But Tsang said he was not going to blame any individuals. "It is not the problem of a person - or a few radical members in LegCo. It is because our system does not allow the government to have stable, reliable majority support in LegCo," he argued at the year-end review press conference.

Legislation prohibits a Chief Executive-elect from retaining membership of any political parties. Tsang, who is considering retiring in 2016 to create a think tank, has long believed this restriction is the cause of fierce resistance faced by the head of the executive branch.

He had also discussed the possibility of a coalition government in last year's interview. But Tsang, at Thursday's press conference, said it would be very difficult to consider major reforms of Hong Kong's political system until the Chief Executive is elected by universal suffrage.

A funding request to establish the Innovation and Technology Bureau has become the latest victim of filibustering. But Tsang believes that not all in the opposition camp wants to derail the government's plan. However, he also admitted there was little that could be done to stop these delaying tactics before the summer recess.

Tsang acknowledged that "vigorous" actions by radicals had given them media attention. But he added that he was not giving up on the belief that a more moderate agenda could be achieved in future.

As the government's focus returns to economic development and people's livelihoods, Tsang hopes there will be more room for agreement on all sides.

kahon@chinadailyhk.com

Legislative Council President Jasper Tsang Yok-sing speaks at a press conference at the Legislative Council on Thursday. Parker Zheng / China Daily

(HK Edition 07/17/2015 page7)