Today two top officials of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, a pro-Beijing group better known as the D.A.B., called for postponement of consideration of the bill until after next year's Legislative Council elections, which are to be held in late August or early September.
The largest party remains the well-funded Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB).
Chiang is a member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the former colony's biggest pro-Beijing party.
But the main pro-Beijing party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, seemed likely to increase its seats, from five to eight.
A pro-Beijing political party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, has estimated that as many as 125,000 foreign domestic helpers could be eligible to apply for permanent residency now, if the law were changed.
Instead, Mr. Tung went along with the advice of the most ardently pro-Beijing party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, to amend the bill and then demand that the Legislative Council take it up Wednesday as scheduled.
"The scandal damages the credibility and image of the local government," said Tsang Yok-sing, the chairman of the main pro-Beijing party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong.
Chow, a politician from Hong Kong's largest pro-Beijing party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), said there was no place for such voices in the legislature.
Ma Lik, the secretary general of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, the largest of the pro-government and pro-Beijing political parties, said he thought Mr. Tung had done enough to address public concerns.
"With this move I think the people in Hong Kong will concentrate more on the economy, and it will make the election not that politicized," said Ma Lik, the secretary general of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong.
