Inside the Legco walkout: how pro-establishment lawmakers used opponents’ own tactics to turn the tables

Councillors adopt tactic used by pan-democrats in using quorum call to force adjournment of Legislative Council proceedings

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Pro-establishment lawmakers protest against localists Baggio Leung and Yau Wai-ching. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 11:45pm, 19 Oct 2016Updated: 10:02am, 20 Oct 2016

While a large media pack gathered at the High Court on Tuesday night waiting for its ruling on the government’s unprecedented legal bid to disqualify two newly elected separatist lawmakers, pro-establishment politicians were also following the development closely through live television reports.

Soon after the court denied the administration an interim injunction to bar Youngspiration pair Sixtus Baggio Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching from retaking their oaths, a message popped up in the camp’s Whatsapp message group. “Perhaps we should reconsider Paul Tse Wai-chun’s suggestion to stage a walkout tomorrow,” the text read.

Watch: The Legco walkout drama

Tse had earlier called on his allies to force an adjournment of Wednesday’s Legislative Council meeting and second swearing-in ceremony for those whose oaths were invalidated, unless the duo apologised for their “inappropriate and offensive” behaviour.

They had offended many by referring to China as “Chee-na”, which sounded like the derogatory Shina used by Japan during the second world war.

Pro-establishment lawmakers targeted localists Baggio Leung and Yau Wai-ching. Photo: Sam Tsang

A number of them from various pro-establishment parties immediately echoed the call. At around 1am, the Beijing-friendly bloc finally decided to call an urgent meeting at 9am the next day to work on their action.