Key figure in botched Hong Kong reform vote walkout apologises for fiasco
Amid mounting pressure and escalating internal conflicts, a key decision maker behind the pro-establishment camp’s mistaken walkout from Hong Kong’s political reform vote has apologised.
Amid mounting pressure and escalating internal conflicts, a key decision maker behind the pro-establishment camp’s mistaken walkout from Hong Kong’s political reform vote yesterday has apologised to angry colleagues and supporters.
“I have to bear a big responsibility for the 33 lawmakers’ inability to cast their yes votes,” Ip told Now TV.
He also said “During the whole process, [as one of the] decision makers, I am very sorry … I also express my apology to the vast majority of Hong Kong residents who have been supporting the passage of the political reform package.”
READ MORE: ‘We’re sorry’: Hong Kong pro-establishment lawmakers apologise for reform vote walkout
On Thursday, seconds before lawmakers were due to vote on the package, business representative Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung appeared to have suggested that the pro-establishment camp should walk out in an attempt to force a 15-minute suspension of the meeting, so that Lam’s party colleague Lau Wong-fat could make it for the vote. Ip stood up and led 31 lawmakers in leaving the chamber.
But since eight pro-establishment lawmakers did not know what was going on, they stayed in the chamber and the vote went ahead with only the eight voting in support of the package, while 28 voted against it.