Pro-govt Lawmakers Go To Police Over Liquid-throwing

Several pro-establishment legislators headed down to police headquarters shortly after Legco passed the National Anthem Bill on Thursday, to report rival lawmakers for throwing foul-smelling liquids in the council in an attempt to delay the vote on the new law.

Priscilla Leung, Elizabeth Quat, Junius Ho, Holden Chow, and Luk Chung-hung went to the force to accuse their rivals of hindering Legco business and violating the Powers and Privileges Ordinance.

Police and firefighters were called into the Legco chamber at lunchtime after lawmakers Chu Hoi-dick and Ray Chan splashed around a liquid they said was biofertiliser, leading to an hours-long delay to the council meeting.

After the meeting eventually resumed in a conference room, pan-democratic lawmakers attempted to disrupt proceedings again, with the Democratic Party's Ted Hui throwing more foul-smelling liquid.

Legco President Andrew Leung told reporters that the behaviour of the lawmakers was irresponsible and had affected seven Legco workers.

He also dismissed criticism that he had cut short the meeting and pushed through voting on the national anthem law, saying it was the pan-democrats who had obstructed the proceedings.

“I have not cut short the meeting and I have not pushed through the bill. I told members that I had scheduled 30 hours, so I think we just worked according to the schedule,” he said.

The Legco president also confirmed that it was the secretariat who had called the police in, and said it is up to officers whether or not to follow up on the matter.

The bill was eventually passed while the pan-dems were still protesting, with 41 votes in favour and one against.

The pro-establishment camp's move to report Chan, Hui and Chu to the police comes after the Court of Appeal ruled this week that legislators causing a disturbance during Legco meetings are not exempted from criminal sanctions.