Pro-Beijing lawmakers, democrats clash in Hong Kong legislature
09 May, 2020
Rival lawmakers scuffled in Hong Kong's legislature on Friday (May 8) in a row over electing the chairman of an integral committee, a fresh sign of rising political tension as the COVID-19 pandemic tapers off in the city.
Lawmakers shouted and pushed one another at the legislative council meeting.
Some democrats charged at a line of guards, wanting to eject a pro-Beijing lawmaker who attemptedto chair the meeting in a move that democrats said violated procedure.
Videos on social media showed a lawmaker climbing up a wall before being pulled down by security guards, while another lawmaker was dragged down onto the floor.
Beijing has accused the former British colony's pro-democracy lawmakers of "malicious" filibustering to avoid some proposed bills from likely to your final vote, effectively paralysing the legislature.
Democrats said the committee needs to elect a chairman first, before any legislation, including one bill that could criminalise abuse of China's national anthem, could be discussed.
"I have the right to start this meeting,” said Starry Lee, of the pro-establishment Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, who attemptedto chair the meeting from behind a wall around two dozen guards in grey suits.
Democrats, who argue filibustering in the legislature is legal and a recognised international practice, responded by shouting “Starry Lee, step down!" and holding placards reading "ultra vires”, Latin for acting "beyond one’s powers".
Hong Kong returned to China in 1997 with a warranty of its much-cherished freedoms, such as an unbiased judiciary, not enjoyed on the mainland. Beijing rejects criticism that it is wanting to erode those freedoms.
Anger against the federal government remains widespread in Hong Kong, which was shaken by often-violent clashes between police and pro-democracy protesters in the second half of last year. Social distancing amid the pandemic has largely put a brake on protests since January, but demonstrations are anticipated to resume later this year.
A few dozen protesters gathered in a downtown shopping mall on Friday and sang protest anthems, before these were dispersed by police.
Last May, scuffles also broke out in the legislature over a proposed extradition law which sparked the protests and was later scrapped.
The arrest of 15 activists in April, including veteran politicians, a publishing tycoon and senior barristers, thrust the protest movement back to the spotlight and drew condemnation from Washington and international rights groups.
China's Hong Kong affairs office warned on Wednesday that the location could not be calm unless "black-clad violent protesters" were all removed, describing them as a "political virus" that seeks independence from Beijing.
A war of words has intensified in the past couple of weeks, with Beijing's top official in Hong Kong urging the neighborhood government to work to enact national security legislation "as quickly as possible", fuelling worries over what many see as further encroachment on the territory's freedoms.
Source: