Exco member Regina Ip upstages new lawmakers by chanting slogans at Legco swearing-in
New People’s Party chairwoman abstains from Au Nok-hin’s oath-taking over ‘integrity issue’, citing pan-democrat lawmaker’s burning of copy of Basic Law in 2016
The four winners of the recent Hong Kong legislative by-election were sworn in on Wednesday, filling some of the seats vacated by six pro-democracy legislators disqualified for improper oath-taking in 2016.
While no one made any alterations to their oath this time around, New People’s Party chairwoman and Executive Council member Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee and her party colleague Eunice Yung Hoi-yan stole the limelight by chanting slogans ahead of pan-democrat Au Nok-hin’s turn.
“Shame on burning the Basic Law!” they chanted, referring to a 2016 incident in which Au burned a copy of the city’s mini-constitution.
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New People’s Party’s Judy Chan Ka-pui lost the Hong Kong Island seat to Au in the March 11 poll, with a thinner-than-expected margin.
“We decided to abstain from the oath-taking of Mr Au Nok-hin. It is a shameful act to burn the Basic Law and deny it,” Ip said as she and Yung walked out of the chamber.
Regina Ip (centre) says she will continue to observe Au Nok-hin to see how he upholds the Basic Law. Photo: Sam Tsang
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Ip said there was “an integrity issue” with Au, who despite the earlier stunt has claimed he would uphold the Basic Law “for the sake of qualifying”.
