Legco rowdy but not violent, says president

He may have expelled radical lawmakers from the chamber dozens of times and dished out hundreds of warnings for unruly behaviour, but outgoing Legislative Council president Tsang Yok-sing has rejected the idea that the behaviour of Legco's troublemakers is violent.

Rounding up his four-year term, which ends on Tuesday, Tsang said it was an exaggeration to describe Legco's culture in such a way.

'Everyone can see when we have fierce debates or when certain lawmakers throw objects in the chamber. But I think it is an exaggeration to call such occasions violence,' Tsang said. 'We comply with the Rules of Procedure most of the time. If a lawmaker breaks the rules intentionally, I have no choice but to eject him.'

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong lawmaker repeatedly expelled three radical pan-democrats - the League of Social Democrats' Leung Kwok-hung, People Power's Wong Yuk-man and Albert Chan Wai-yip - after becoming Legco chief in 2008.

One of the most memorable moments of his term in office came when Wong was ejected from the chamber for throwing a banana-shaped prop at former chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen in 2008.

In another interview, Tsang revealed that retiring Legco secretary general Pauline Ng Man-wah planned to write a 'bible' on Legco procedure. 'This contributes to the sustainable development of the city's legislature,' he said.