Hong Kong pan-democrats’ division and inaction comes to the fore as pro-Beijing anger rages
Day of drama does bring short-lived show of unity in fraught camp
Two weeks into the oath-taking saga, those in the pro-democracy camp appeared ambivalent about matching their words of fury with adequate action.
Supporters will be wondering why the camp had not organised a single rally or march to protest the ruling of Legislative Council president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen even as they lashed out at him for blatantly depriving two localist lawmakers of their constitutional rights.
Pan-democrats’ inaction stood in stark contrast to the crowd of nearly 10,000 mobilised by Beijing-friendly groups outside the legislature on Wednesday, demanding that the Youngspiration pair Sixtus Baggio Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching quit Legco. About the only other group in the same area pointing fingers at Andrew Leung was the League of Social Democrats.
But on Wednesday there was a show of unity, albeit briefly, among pan-democrats and localists.
Eight pan-democrats escorted Yau and Baggio Leung, whom Andrew Leung had banned from joining the meeting, into the chamber. The pair openly expressed gratitude for their help.