THE storm over the centre for former mental patients in Laguna City looks set to worsen with liberal and conservative legislators heading for what promises to be a bitter debate on Wednesday.
Kowloon East directly-elected member Mr Fred Li Wah-ming, who has been accused by the Liberal Party of failing to reflect his constituents' objections to the centre, has moved to upgrade his adjournment debate on rehabilitation to a motion debate, thus giving the topic a higher profile.
If the President of the Legislative Council, Mr John Swaine, today allows Mr Li to carry his motion forward, the debate looks likely to feature a head-to-head clash between the council's rival camps.
Mr Li's proposed motion reads: ''That this council urges the Government to take positive measures to strengthen community education and to promote the smooth implementation of the policy of integrating rehabilitation services into the community.'' While the motion itself is not controversial and members of both the Liberal Party and the United Democrats said they were unlikely to propose amendments, it will give councillors an opportunity to air their views on the increasingly controversial topic.
The issue spilled into the political arena when Mr Johnny Lui Chi-ming, chairman of a concern group at Laguna City - which is in east Kowloon - and a newcomer to the Liberal Party, accused Mr Li of withdrawing his support for residents' calls for a halt to the building of the day care centre.
Mr Li has denied the allegation.