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Regina Ip cries during an interview on Commercial Radio. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Tears flow from Regina Ip, tipped as 'chief executive hopeful', after failing to cast Hong Kong reform vote

There was no shortage of emotion yesterday as two usually tough-talking pro-Beijing lawmakers shed tears in public over their parts in the walkout drama at the Legislative Council chamber the day before.

There was no shortage of emotion yesterday as two usually tough-talking pro-Beijing lawmakers shed tears in public over their parts in the walkout drama at the Legislative Council chamber the day before.

One of them was New People's Party chairwoman Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who kept a stiff upper lip in public even when she was forced to step down as security chief in 2003 after a massive backlash against her push for national security legislation.

The other was Business and Professionals Alliance vice-chairman Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, a key organiser of the walkout that left just eight pro-Beijing lawmakers to vote for the proposal.

"I think the central government must be very disappointed. I also feel very sad. I didn't sleep well yesterday. I have worked hard for 20 months, and I really wanted to cast this vote," a sobbing Ip said on Commercial Radio yesterday. "I really believe that it would be beneficial for Hong Kong if everyone had a vote" for chief executive.

READ MORE: Hong Kong reform vote walkout ‘like a failed soccer offside trap’, says lawmaker amid demands for apology

Ip admitted she had failed to live up to her supporters' expectations. Asked if she would still run for chief executive, she replied: "I do not have time to think about this now. The situation is chaotic at the moment."

In February, when asked if she was interested in running for the top job, she would only say she "needed to prepare" for it.

On Thursday, the legislature blocked the government's electoral reform package.

The Legco bell rang at 12.27pm, alerting lawmakers that they had five minutes to get to the chamber and vote. At the sound of the bell, Lam left the chamber while talking on the phone to Heung Yee Kuk chairman Lau Wong-fat, also of the Business and Professionals Alliance.

Lam returned four minutes later and requested a 15-minute suspension, which was refused.

With less than 30 seconds left, Lam and another pro-establishment heavyweight, Ip Kwok-him, of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong stood up. Ip was seen ushering the Beijing loyalists out.

Yesterday, a tearful Lam apologised again for the fiasco.

"After the political reform [proposal failed], I hope calm will return … I hope that everyone can put behind the fighting of the past … years," Lam said, stopping to control his emotions. "I apologise to everyone again."

Watch: Regina Ip tearfully regrets Hong Kong reform vote misstep

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Day the tears, and apologies, flowed
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