Hong Kong pan-democrat accused of stopping fellow lawmakers getting into chamber to discuss copyright bill

A “senior pro-democracy parliamentarian” was accused of deliberately pressing multiple lift buttons and obstructing fellow lawmakers as they tried to reach the chamber on Thursday. The Legislative Council is investigating what led the copyright amendment bill debates to be cut short for a fourth time due to a lack of quorum.

As time runs out for the scrutiny of the contentious bill before sessions designated for the budget speech by the financial secretary, several lawmakers across the political spectrum were lining up a “four-side conference” involving the government, lawmakers, copyright owner groups and internet freedom concern groups.

But the thin veneer of positivity was largely overshadowed by the lift prank.

Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker Chan Yuen-han, who made it to the chamber within the 15-minute quorum bell, declined to say if the person she met in the lift was Democrat James To Kun-sun. Two buttons were pressed, she said.

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“I don’t want to tell lies, nor do I want to retort,” she said. “I believe you [journalists] know what I mean.” To denied he obstructed others, saying: “I have my own right to get to my destination.”