Last week, we saw pro-democracy lawmakers disrupt proceedings at LegCo by banging their desks with books, waving placards, chanting slogans, and ultimately staging a protest in the middle of the chamber that led to some legislators being carried back to their seats by security.
The filibustering shenanigans continued yesterday, with lawmaker Shiu Ka-chun pledging to “sound a siren for the sleeping people of Hong Kong” and activating what local media are calling a rape alarm, before the hearing descended into a game of keep away, as security tried to confiscate the device from pan-dem legislators.
The spectacle was part of the pro-democracy camps efforts to resist proposed changes to legislature’s rules of procedure aimed at curbing filibustering.
In his 15-minute statement prior to his theatrics, Shiu said the proposed changes would permanently castrate the power of LegCo, and he likened them to Germany’s 1933 Enabling Act, an amendment that allowed Adolf Hitler to enact laws without the involvement of the German Parliament the Reichstag.
He then concluded his statement by saying that Hong Kong and LegCo need to be protected before raising his arm and, literally, sounding the alarm.
Pro-Beijing lawmaker Starry Lee, who was standing in for LegCo President Andrew Leung, is then seen repeatedly telling Shiu to turn off his alarm as pro-democracy lawmakers get out of their seats and begin chanting slogans.
After her orders are ignored, Lee then calls on security to confiscate the alarm from Shiu, who puts it in his pocket, and then tosses it across the chamber to his pro-democracy colleagues where it goes back and forth between Ray Chan, Ted Hui, and Jeremy Tam
At one point during the fracas, HK First lawmaker Claudia Mo says she feels dizzy and then falls to the floor, causing the proceedings to come to an abrupt halt.
In video recorded by pro-Beijing lawmaker Elizabeth Quat — posted along the caption “playing around again!” — LegCo security guards are seen trying to help Mo to her feet.
The shenanigans began because of a proposal raised months ago that would make stalling controversial bills harder for the pro-democracy camp, which was weakened by the disqualification of six of its lawmakers this year over the oath-taking saga.
Pro-establishment lawmaker Paul Tse, the chairman of the legislature’s rules of procedure committee, last week likened the tactics of pro-democracy lawmakers to that of the Taliban.
According to the Standard, other hijinks from yesterday included a confrontation between Tse and Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai who said: “There is a Chinese saying, ‘when the rabbit is killed, the hunting dog will also be cooked.’ As a hunting dog, will not Tse be eventually abandoned by Beijing?” Wu asked.
An enraged Tse responded: “If you can’t explain, please withdraw it and apologize.”
The meeting had to be suspended for 20 minutes until Wu agreed to withdraw his comments about Tse.
Other lawmakers also used the opportunity to poke fun at Tse, a colorful lawmaker who once proclaimed himself “the Superman of Law,” and who once walked around Central with no clothes on carrying a sign.
Jeremy Tam said: “With infinite bravery, Tse went into the streets in Central naked, so he must be a talent in the eyes of the government.”
This was followed by Abraham Shek from the Business and Professionals Alliance, who said Tse should have worn underpants back in 2001.
Tse then clarified that he wasn’t naked, but wore swimming shorts, causing the chamber to erupt with laughter.
Yep, just another fun-filled day in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council.
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