Pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung was forcibly carried out of a Legislative Council hearing today in what must have been one of the most subdued incidents ever of a duly elected lawmaker being literally dragged from the halls the of power.
The ejection took place during a hearing on Hong Kong’s controversial National Anthem Bill, which would criminalize any public “insult” to China’s national song, March of the Volunteers.
In the hearing, National Anthem Bills Committee Chairman Martin Liao Cheung-kong announced a deadline of March 22 for submitting any written questions regarding the proposed legislation, which has drawn substantial criticism for its vague wording and curtailment of freedom of expression.
Fellow pro-dem lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki was the first to express discontent with the decision in a back-and-forth with Liao, noting that he had “never seen a situation whereby beyond a certain date written questions cannot be accepted.”
Liao, however, stood by his decision, noting that the bill had been on the table for some time already, and maintaining that the submission of questions on the legislation “cannot go on indefinitely.”
Kwok responded by calling the move a “dangerous precedent,” as other pro-democracy lawmakers piled on, with Hui chiming in to say that he did “not agree with what [Liao] said.”
“I’ve also checked with the rules of procedure and so on, and there is no rule permitting the committee chairman to draw the line” on accepting questions, Hui continued. “It’s not about you arbitrarily making decisions whatsoever.”
Liao defended the ruling as “my decision,” before warning Hui and another lawmaker that if they did not stop speaking from their seats and leave, he would be “enforcing the rules of procedure.” Despite finally being told to “please go out,” however, Hui remained impassively in his chair, prompting security personnel to surround him in a sort of confused huddle while pondering the best course of action.
Ultimately, staffers decided to gingerly hoist Hui — still wearing an expression best described as the facial equivalent of a shrug — out of his seat by the legs and armpits and carry him out of the chamber.
It was all pretty genteel, actually. (Just see for yourself — the good part starts at the 9:00:00).
Contributing to the surprisingly calm overall vibe — at least for a lawmaker being dragged from the halls of the legislature — may have been the fact that the room was largely empty to begin with.
The shenanigans followed a similar hearing on the law on Saturday, which also saw pro-dem figures heap scorn on the National Anthem Bill. (One pointedly asked whether, when teaching the anthem in schools, it would also be taught that the author of its lyrics, Tian Han, died in prison after being swept up in the anti-subversive fervor of the Cultural Revolution.)
At one point during that hearing, a handful of pro-democracy activists rushed the chairman’s table mid-discussion, bowling over a security guard and generally raising a ruckus. (Watch it here — the rushing starts around 15:58:00.)
The incidents prompted LegCo Chairman Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen to note in a media briefing today that security personnel had been hurt in the altercations. He also promised to explore appropriate responses in both instances, looking not so much angry, as disappointed.
