A leading pro-Beijing lawmaker said yesterday the future is uncertain

for Article 23 anti-subversion legislation put on hold after a massive

outpouring of public opposition.

Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa amended and then delayed the planned

measure after an estimated 500,000 people marched in protest on July

1.

"Now no one knows when the bill can go back to the Legislative

Council, or even whether it can go back at all," said legislator

Jasper Tsang, head of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of

Hong Kong.

Liberal Party chairman James Tien withdrew his party's crucial votes

following the mass protest, effectively thwarting Tung's plan to pass

the legislation on July 9 and setting off the biggest political crisis

of Tung's tenure.

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