Hong Kong lawmakers clash as pro-Beijing camp elects chair of key committee
- Pro-democracy lawmakers fear this will speed up passage of a bill that would criminalise abuse of the Chinese national anthem.
- It is the second time this month there have been physical fights at Legco.
Pro-democracy lawmaker Eddie Chu (bottom C) is surrounded by security as he and other pro-democracy lawmakers scuffle with pro-Beijing lawmakers and Legco security.Clashes broke out in Hong Kong’s legislature Monday for the second time this month as a pro-Beijing lawmaker was elected chair of a key committee that scrutinises bills, ending a prolonged struggle for control with the pro-democracy camp.
The legislature’s House Committee, which vets bills and decides when to present them for a final vote, had been without a chairperson for more than six months. The central government in Beijing criticised deputy chairperson and pro-democracy lawmaker Dennis Kwok, saying he deliberately delayed matters and caused a backlog of bills that affect public interest.
Kwok was replaced Friday by Chan Kin-por, who was appointed by the legislature’s president to preside over Monday’s election. After scuffles and shouting matches, leading to Chan ejecting most of the pro-democracy lawmakers, the election took place with pro-Beijing lawmaker Starry Lee winning easily.
Her election will likely speed up the passage of a controversial bill that would criminalise abuse of the Chinese national anthem. Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam said last week that passing the bill was a priority for the government, and the bill will be presented to the committee on May 27.
Hong Kong’s Legislative Council sees injuries as lawmakers fight
At Monday’s meeting, pro-democracy lawmakers held up placards that read “Abuse of Power” and “CCP tramples HK legislature,” referring to the China’s ruling Communist Party. Within minutes, at least five lawmakers were ejected for disorderly behavior, with at least one lying injured on the ground, as the meeting was briefly suspended.
“Hong Kong is marching towards the beginning of the end of ‘one country, two systems’,” said pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo after the meeting ended.
Mo urged the Hong Kong people to vote out those who “don’t care about Hong Kong’s future” in the legislative elections in September.
Pro-democracy lawmaker Tanya Chan accused security guards of Hong Kong’s legislature of “losing their impartiality,” after the security guards surrounded the bench where the chairperson was seated and prevented pro-democracy lawmakers from getting close.
Lawmakers clashed over the same issue on May 8, when Lee occupied the chairperson’s seat more than an hour before the meeting was scheduled to start, saying that external legal counsel had advised that she had the power to preside over House Committee meetings.
Pro-democracy lawmakers accused her of abusing her power and staged a walkout, leaving Lee and the pro-Beijing camp to clear several bills.