Legco Clashes Prompt Night Of Protests

Scores of people responded to online calls for protests on Friday evening, with many of them motivated by scenes of clashes in the Legislative Council's House Committee meeting.

After DAB lawmaker Starry Lee took the chair of the committee, helped by Legco security guards, scuffles broke out between rival legislators and pan-democrat members of the committee were expelled from the meeting.

The scenes infuriated pro-democracy groups, and a large crowd gathered in the Pacific Place mall in the early evening, with many wearing the black garb associated with last year's anti-extradition movement. Others were still clad in office attire.

Later in the evening, there was a heavy police presence in Mong Kok, as protesters briefly attempted to block roads including Soy Street and Sai Yeung Choi Street South with garbage and other items.

Police in riot gear stopped and search a number of young people, many of them dressed in black.

A large contingent of riot police was also on hand on hand near Pacific Place earlier and signs and tannoy announcement reminded people to take note of anti-pandemic measures that prevent gatherings of more than eight.

Police had previously cited the measures in breaking up protests in shopping malls, including at IFC in Central earlier on Friday.

However there was no attempt to stop the gathering in Pacific Place, with people spending about an hour chanting slogans in favour of the "five demands" of last year's anti-extradition movement and chastising the police.

One woman, who gave her name as Mary, told RTHK that she was motivated by the scenes in Legco earlier.

"The meeting, the chairman is supposed to be Dennis Kwok," she said, referring to the Civic Party legislator who has been the presiding member of House Committee meetings so far this legislative year as it failed to elect a full-time chair.

"And the [Starry] Lee came suddenly and sat on the chair and she began the meeting and we think that is illegal. We don't accept that and that's why we came here."

Legco's legal advisers had told Lee she was allowed to take the chair, reversing their previous stance.

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