Pro-Beijing groups protest in Hong Kong as the territory’s legislative council holds first meeting since interpretation
Record ID:
79562
Pro-Beijing groups protest in Hong Kong as the territory’s legislative council holds first meeting since interpretation
- Title: Pro-Beijing groups protest in Hong Kong as the territory’s legislative council holds first meeting since interpretation
- Date: 9th November 2016
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (NOVEMBER 9, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PROTESTERS GATHERED PROTESTERS HOLDING PLACARDS PROTESTER HOLDING PLACARD READING (Chinese): "THE INTERPRETATION IS THE LEGAL RIGHT AND DUTY OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS" (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) HOUSEWIFE, CHAN SIU TIN, SAYING: "Of course we should come out, they should not be let in the chamber. They're not doing it for Hong Kong, or our country. They're messing around. What they said, we are not happy or like what they did." PROTESTERS SHOUTING SLOGANS PLACARD READING (Chinese): "STRICTLY ABIDE BY THE INTERPRETATION, PRO-HONG KONG INDEPENDENCE ASPIRATIONS NEED TO GET OUT OF HONG KONG" PROTESTERS CHINESE AND HONG KONG FLAGS LEGISLATORS ENTERING LEGCO CHAMBER NOTICE SAYING LEGISLATORS BAGGIO LEUNG AND YAU WAI-CHING ARE BARRED FROM ENTERING CHAMBER LEGCO MEETING STARTING SECURITY GUARDS TRYING TO EXPEL PAN DEMOCRAT LEGISLATOR FROM CHAMBER HONG KONG EMBLEM LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANDREW LEUNG SEATED SECURITY GUARDS TRYING TO EXPEL PAN DEMOCRAT LEGISLATOR FROM CHAMBER (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRO-ESTABLISHMENT LEGISLATOR, JEFFREY LAM, SAYING: "In order to bring the legislative council back to order, I think the president has to take stricter orders in order to give everybody a smooth procedure." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRO-DEMOCRAT LEGISLATOR, JAMES TO, SAYING: "When the whole word, I mean the whole world, even the international community including, is discussing about Hong Kong's situation, one country two systems, the interpretation of the Basic Law is so big of an issue, and it's only the legislative council, in a formal session, which is left out. And we have nothing on record debating on it. I think it's so absurd. It's total absurdity. It's the number one absurdity of world events, in Hong Kong. (Thank you)." NEWS CONFERENCE ENDING
- Embargoed: 24th November 2016 05:55
- Keywords: Hong Kong protest legislative council interpretation meeting
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00157Q25VP
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Pro-Beijing groups staged a protest outside Hong Kong's Legislative Council building on Wednesday (November 9) as the lawmaking body of the former British territory resumed its first meeting since Beijing's decision to re-interpret the city's mini constitution.
Two politicians - Yau Wai-ching, 25, and Baggio Leung, 30 - displayed a "Hong Kong is not China" banner and used a derogatory word for China during a swearing-in ceremony as Legislative Council members in October.
They were not sworn in and the city's chief executive filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against them getting another chance.
Hong Kong's High Court struck down that request but approved a judicial review hearing over the pair's membership of the legislature, which began on Thursday (November 3).
The oath-taking saga prompted China to interpret Hong Kong's mini-constitution, or Basic law, which effectively barred the independence lawmakers from making their oaths and sworn into office.
Several hundred people waving Chinese and Hong Kong flags gathered just outside the Legislative Council building on Wednesday, many of them shouting slogans denouncing legislators promoting Hong Kong independence.
"Of course we should come out, they should not be let in the chamber. They're not doing it for Hong Kong, or our country. They're messing around. What they said, we are not happy or like what they did," said fellow protester Chan Siu-tan, from Guangdong province in mainland China.
Yau and Leung have also been banned from entering Legislative Council meetings, which run every Wednesday. Scuffles broke out on Wednesday (November 9) between security guards and pan-democratic legislators, after Democratic Party lawmaker, Ted Hui Chi-fung demanded the interpretation to be discussed during the meeting session.
Pro-establishment lawmakers condemned the scuffles and said rules need to be put in place so that Legislative Council session can go ahead.
"In order to bring the Legislative Council back to order, I think the president has to think (of) stricter orders in order to give everybody a smooth procedure," said lawmaker Jeffrey Lam.
But pro-democracy lawmakers say it's worrying that Hong Kong's own parliament won't discuss China's interpretation.
"When the whole word, I mean the whole world, even the international community including, is discussing about Hong Kong's situation, one country two systems, the interpretation of the Basic Law is so big of an issue, and it's only the legislative council, in a formal session, which is left out. And we have nothing on record debating on it. I think it's so absurd. It's total absurdity. It's the number one absurdity of world events, in Hong Kong," pro-democratic lawmaker, James To told reporters outside the council chamber.
The former British colony returned to China in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" agreement that ensured its freedoms, including a separate legal system. But Beijing has ultimate control and some Hong Kong people are concerned it is increasingly interfering to head off dissent.
Hong Kong has thrived as a financial and legal centre thanks in part to its independent rule of law, which many now perceive to be under threat.
The Standing Committee has interpreted the Basic Law four times since the city returned to Chinese rule in 1997, including once when neither the city government nor its courts requested it.
Once taboo, calls for self-determination and independence have risen in the territory since the 79 day struggle in late 2014 when tens of thousands took to the streets for 79 days of protests against reforms that failed to deliver full democracy for leadership. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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