CY urged to step down amid rowdy protests at consultation forum
Chief executive struggles to switch attention to his policy address and budget
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying faced calls to step down amid a credibility crisis over illegal structures found at his two houses on The Peak.
Rowdy protesters marred a consultation forum in Kowloon Bay yesterday meant to discuss Leung's debut policy address and budget.
Various groups aired grievances on issues ranging from an allowance for the elderly to free-to-air television licences.
Among the protesters were more than 100 from three radical parties - the League of Social Democrats, People Power, and Democratic Alliance.
Shouts of "Down, down, Leung Chun-ying" echoed through the hall at the Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre.
There were also chants of "Explain the illegal structures", "Step down now" and "Government of deception, people suffer".
At one point lawmaker "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung rushed to the front and yelled at the chief executive to step down.
Throughout the 80-minute forum, protesters at the back of the 700-seat auditorium interrupted whenever Leung responded to questions and when members of the audience expressed their views to the chief executive and Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah.
Some people held up placards expressing opposition to a means test for a proposed HK$2,200-a-month Old Age Living Allowance scheme.
Others marched to the front of the auditorium, delaying the start of the forum by more than five minutes.
Others protested against a government plan to develop new towns in the northeastern New Territories.
When "Long Hair" was given a chance to speak, he said: "You are dodging the problem. You have refused to discuss your illegal structures."
But a woman on the floor said: "It is too democratic here. The forum should be conducted in an orderly way."
