Those rumbustious lawmakers from the League of Social Democrats have been secretly filming their own antics. This was apparently in retaliation for their microphones being shut off every time they were escorted out of the Legco chamber following a protest or a disruption. TV news cameras could capture their struggles with security guards but not what they were shouting about. Apparently, it sometimes involves borderline obscenities not fit for corruptible young minds watching on TV.
Their latest clips, which have become hits this week on YouTube, feature Wong Yuk-man (right in picture) badgering 'Chief Executive Bow Tie' about the widening wealth gap. Fellow league member 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung (left) apparently controlled the camera and gave insightful background commentary such as 'shameless', 'disgusting' and 'screwed up'.
Wong was sermonising on 'Your six 'drop-dead' industries', using a particularly rude Cantonese phrase, when Legco president Tsang Yok-sing, a former school teacher and principal, would have none of it. Wong was promptly thrown out, while 'Long Hair' continued filming and prepared for his next protest with banners denouncing the government. After he too was taken out, the guards retrieved the camera and returned it to Wong. 'You can't shut down free speech,' he said, without even saying thank you.
According to Legco's rules and regulations, there is nothing to stop lawmakers from filming inside the chamber, though mere mortals like you and me are forbidden to record with any electronic devices in the public galleries. Exclusive membership comes with its own privileges.