Pro-Beijing lawmaker denies assaulting rival during chaotic Hong Kong legislative meeting in private prosecution case
- Kwok Wai-keung maintains he did not attack Raymond Chan during House Committee session last May
- Denial comes as court rejects request from justice department for more time to consider weighing in on private prosecution
Pro-Beijing lawmaker Kwok Wai-keung has denied assaulting a political rival during a chaotic meeting in the Legislative Council four months ago, after a court snubbed the justice department’s request for time to consider whether to intervene in the rare private prosecution.
Kwok, 42, of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, pleaded not guilty to common assault in West Kowloon Court on Monday, three months after chairman of opposition party People Power, Raymond Chan Chi-chuen, 48, was granted permission to initiate the criminal proceedings.
Chan has accused him of forcefully pulling him from behind and dragging him along an aisle during the meeting, when opposition lawmakers were ejected following a protest on May 8.
While the Magistrates Ordinance allows residents to lodge criminal complaints against one another, ultimate authority rests with the justice minister, who can step in and abort the proceedings at any stage before the court makes a ruling.