Advertisement
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
Hong KongPolitics

Hong Kong lawmakers set for chaotic showdown over control of key Legco committee, with scuffles not ruled out

  • Opposition will filibuster and use legal opinion from constitutional experts to accuse pro-Beijing heavyweight Starry Lee of conflict of interest
  • Lee’s camp bracing for violence, with alternative conference room as backup for stormy meetings

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Starry Lee (centre) is in the eye of the storm as incumbent chairwoman of the House Committee standing for re-election. Photo: Robert Ng
Alvin LumandNatalie Wong

Hong Kong lawmakers from opposing camps are gearing up for a showdown over control of a key committee in the legislature, with both sides bracing for physical clashes.

Advertisement

The opposition camp is expected on Friday to filibuster at the Legislative Council House Committee meetings, using legal opinion obtained from two constitutional law experts. They will accuse pro-Beijing heavyweight Starry Lee Wai-king of conflict of interest in handling council affairs while standing for re-election, slamming her for a “mockery of the relevant rules of procedure”.

Lee’s bloc, meanwhile, has planned to let her preside over the meeting – which she extended from the usual 30 minutes to 4½ hours – with an alternative room prepared in case of chaos, as one lawmaker warned that the public would see which side was to blame for delaying discussion on “livelihood issues” if the talks turned ugly.

The face-off comes as Beijing and Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor urged lawmakers to break the deadlock over electing a committee chair, and move on to passing legislation, including the controversial national anthem bill, which defines how people must behave when March of the Volunteers is played in Hong Kong.
Lawmaker Dennis Kwok has been accused by Beijing of paralysing Legco. Photo: Edmond So
Lawmaker Dennis Kwok has been accused by Beijing of paralysing Legco. Photo: Edmond So
Beijing’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) and its liaison office in the city have accused opposition lawmaker Dennis Kwok, who has presided over the committee, of paralysing Legco with filibustering tactics.
Advertisement

They pointed to bills piled up since October, while Kwok’s rivals said he had allowed lawmakers from his camp to speak at length to delay the vote on chairmanship in the past 15 meetings.

Advertisement