Unpopular Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying is set to take the stand today in an assault case against a legislator who threw a glass at him in parliament, the first time a sitting chief executive has ever testified in court.
Rival groups clashed outside ahead of the hearing in which pro-democracy and anti-China lawmaker Raymond Wong stands accused of common assault.
Wong has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Anti-Leung groups shouted: “Down with the the Chinese Communist Party,” eliciting the response: “May the CCP live for 10,000 years,” from the other side.
A scuffle broke out when one pro-Leung demonstrator shoved a supporter from the Wong camp, with the Leung group calling their rivals “yellow dogs”.
Leung is expected to testify today.
The case comes as Leung is battling widening political divisions in the semi-autonomous city, with young campaigners pushing for self-determination or outright independence from China as fears grow that Beijing is tightening its grip.
Wong is accused of throwing a glass at Leung in July 2014 during a question-and-answer session in the legislature. It did not hit him, smashing on the floor nearby.
The incident took place as tensions were rising in the wake of a white paper from Beijing in which it asserted its authority over Hong Kong.
Frustrations later boiled over into massive pro-democracy rallies in September 2014 after Beijing insisted on vetting candidates for the city’s future leader ahead of a public vote.
Tuesday’s case also comes as Leung is embroiled in a row over an alleged breach of aviation rules involving the baggage of his daughter.
That led to more than a thousand people protesting against him at Hong Kong airport Sunday.
They were angered by an apparent special arrangement that helped 23-year-old Leung Chung-yan after she accidentally left her hand baggage at the check-in counter last month.
Airport staff brought it to her in the restricted zone.
Local media reported the chief executive made a phone call to relevant officers before the bag was delivered to his daughter.
Leung has admitted making a call but denied pressuring staff.
Words: AFP
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