Hong Kong lawmaker Lau Wong-fat denies he's quitting Legislative Council
Rural leader Lau Wong-fat rejects rumours, which followed the botched Legco walkout
Rural patriarch and pro-establishment lawmaker Lau Wong-fat yesterday denied he was set to quit the Legislative Council.
Rumours emerged yesterday morning that the Business and Professionals Alliance lawmaker - affectionately known as "Uncle Fat" - would resign due to poor health. He was at the centre of a controversial walkout during last week's Legco vote on electoral reform, when pro-establishment lawmakers left the chamber in a failed attempt to delay the vote until Lau arrived.
The rumours sent shock-waves through political circles, and reportedly even raised the eyebrows of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who asked his aides to seek clarification.
They coincided with gossip in political circles that Beijing was unhappy with Lau over his tardiness in arriving at Legco.
In a statement issued around 6pm in response to an inquiry from the Post, Lau categorically denied the reports, saying "there is no truth in the rumour".
"My health condition is improving. And I do not think there are any reasons for me to resign at this point in time," the statement read.