Lawmakers make 'Occupy Legco' contingency plans

As Hong Kong students joined the occupation of the Taiwan legislature yesterday, the city's Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing confirmed that lawmakers are to discuss a contingency plan in the event of a copycat sit-in.

It followed calls from pro-government legislators including Wong Ting-kwong, from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, who said he was worried about the Hong Kong legislature or other public buildings being similarly occupied.

"I am not saying that we have to step up security measures or manpower," Wong told the Post. "But in case of an emergency, should we call the police and who should make that call? I think we have to discuss and be prepared psychologically."

Pan-democratic lawmakers such as the Labour Party's Cyd Ho Sau-lan suggested that his colleagues across the aisle that divides the two political camps might be a bit too sensitive. "We have to defend our openness and transparency … because our Legco complex was criticised for being [not open enough in the past]," Ho said. "Do you have to backtrack on that because something has happened in Taiwan … and when it is not obvious that [Legco] is going to be occupied?"

Tsang later confirmed to the Post that the issue of a contingency plan could go before the Legco Commission, which he chairs, on April 8. "It has happened in Taiwan and councillors are concerned, so I think we should talk about [what to do] in case problems arise," Tsang said, adding that it was possible no new measures would be necessary if existing emergency procedures were found to be adequate.

A spokesman for the Legco Secretariat said it had about 90 security staff and "substantial experience" in handling mass protests near Legco. He stressed there was "a well-established tradition for legislative proposals to be closely scrutinised".