Lawmaker Fears Police State As Funding Delay Vetoed

Labour Party lawmaker Fernando Cheung said on Thursday that he fears Hong Kong will be turned into a police state, after Legco voted down proposals to stop HK$25.8 billion funding for the police.

Legco voted down all 52 amendments tabled by pro-democracy lawmakers to this year's budget.

The opposition had sought to stop the funding for police, citing the force's crackdown on anti-government protests.

They had argued that the force doesn't deserve a 25 percent boost to its budget which will allow them to add 2,500 officers and buy more weapons.

Cheung said there is very little the pan-democratic side can do to block the funding proposal, with their rival camp controlling the council.

“Now that they have got all the money they need, to purchase more ammunition, equipment and supplies to continue with their suppression, I think we are turning Hong Kong into a police state,” he said.

“We foresee more confrontation between people and the police and I am afraid that we are gonna see more violence in the streets and even off the streets,” said the lawmaker.

Legco was expected to approve the budget later on Thursday.