Hong Kong student activists ejected from youth forum after shouting down Carrie Lam
Session on pension policy designed to engage young people disrupted by protesters calling for a universal retirement protection scheme
A forum on retirement protection proposals intended to engage young people and Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor ended in scuffles on Monday night when a handful of student activists tried to interrupt the exchange session.
Over 20 police officers were on guard outside the Education Bureau’s Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre before Lam arrived just before 6pm and security guards were stationed throughout the complex.
Student activists yelled at Lam for not pushing for a universal pension.
READ MORE: Critics accuse government of alreadying deciding to opt for a means-tested scheme rather than a full-blown universal pension
Lau Ming-wai, chairman of the Commission on Youth, who was moderating the forum, then stepped in and said: “This is not Legco. This is not a rally ... the youth politicians, please leave.”
Lam remained seated and looked on.
After the activists were carried out of the venue by security guards, Lam said: “I felt kind of strange why it was so calm after over one hour. Because I recognised these faces. They are old customers.”
Her response was met with laughter by some participants and she then elaborated the government’s stance on welfare.