Hong Kong government blocks questions from four Legco lawmakers facing judicial review
Financial Secretary John Tsang slammed at financial planning meeting, as members urge the government to wait for High Court ruling
During a financial affairs panel meeting on Monday, Tsang announced the government would not take the lawmakers’ questions. He cited advice from the Department of Justice and a letter submitted by Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to the Legislative Council president in November for the refusal.
Watch: John Tsang refuses to take queries from four lawmakers
The four lawmakers are veteran activist “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung, former Occupy student leader Nathan Law Kwun-chung, academic Edward Yiu Chung-yim and lecturer Lau Siu-lai. The government commenced legal proceedings against all four last Friday by asking the High Court to declare their oaths invalid and their Legco seats vacant.
“Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung immediately slammed Tsang and the government for the decision, saying its stance was in violation of article 73 of the Basic Law, which lists the powers and functions of the Legislative Council..
In common law we have presumption of innocence, but you treat them as if they were no longer legislators
“Pending a court ruling, we are still legislators,” Leung said.