Ray Chan Challenges Legco Official Over 'bullying'

The legislature's secretary general Kenneth Chen on Tuesday characterised criticism against him as bordering on bullying, but as soon as he ended a media briefing lawmaker Ray Chan challenged him, accusing the official of persecuting the opposition.

Chen was speaking to the media for the first time since the Legco secretariat issued a controversial circular, paving the way for pro-Beijing lawmaker Abraham Shek to replace Democrat James To as the host of a bills committee meeting on extradition legislation.

The secretary general said he welcomes recent constructive criticism over the move, but he urged those who have been attacking the secretariat to stop such behaviour.

He said the action of the secretariat in relation to the extradition law bills committee has been based on the rules of procedure, house rules and past practice.

But Chen refused to go into details, saying he had made himself clear in a letter to lawmakers on Sunday.

After Chen spoke, Chan walked up to the secretary general and asked him to clarify his actions.

"You have a mouth, I have a mouth. You don't have the guts to respond to me, Kenneth Chen!" he said.

Chen then said he had a meeting to attend and left without responding.

The opposition lawmaker shouted that if any bullying is taking place, then it is the secretariat that is the aggressor and the victim is the pro-democracy camp.

"How can I bully you? You have a fleet of security guards surrounding you. Am I bullying you?" asked Chan.