Tempers flare over controversial extradition bill in Hong Kong Legco as opposition lawmakers shout profanity and call city leader Carrie Lam a liar
- Legco president Andrew Leung demands the removal of six lawmakers, including Claudia Mo, who said Lam was ‘lying through her teeth’
- Row erupts as Lam issues strongly-worded defence of extradition proposal, which will allow transfer of fugitives to any jurisdictions Hong Kong lacks a deal with – including mainland China
Opposition lawmakers shouted insults and a profanity at Hong Kong’s leader and called her a liar during a heated debate over a contentious extradition bill, ending with six of them being removed from the legislative chamber.
Legislative Council president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen’s decision to oust a pan-democrat after she accused Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor of lying drew severe criticism from the camp. They argued it deviated from previous practice and would limit free speech in the legislature.
The row erupted on Thursday when Lam issued a strongly-worded defence over the beleaguered extradition proposal, which would allow the transfer of fugitives to any jurisdictions which the city lacks a deal with – including mainland China.
Lam hit back at claims mainland China was deliberately excluded as a destination for fugitive transfers when the laws were overhauled before the handover and said opponents who suggested that were making “trash talk”.
But Claudia Mo Man-ching, who convenes the pro-democracy bloc, disagreed and shouted: “You are lying!”
Leung demanded Mo to retract the remark.
“That is a serious and offensive allegation,” he said, adjourning the meeting for 15 minutes.
He ordered Mo to be removed after she refused. Six more pan-democrats were ordered out during the 90-minute question and answer session.
I will be careful in the future, but please forgive me. No one at that meeting would be able to contain their emotion
Democratic Party leader Wu Chi-wai, in a rare show of rage, slammed Lam for toeing the Communist Party line and having no humanity by pushing the unpopular bill ahead.
“How many people do we need to take to the street, pull their business [from the city] and move elsewhere to force you to stop?” he said.
As Wu was escorted from the chamber, he shouted at Lam: “You are useless dead or alive, b***h!”
Wu insisted he would not retract the remark.
“I could not find a better word to describe her,” Wu said, referring to Lam’s interpretation over the legislative intent of the current extradition law.
“I will be careful in the future, but please forgive me. No one at that meeting would be able to contain their emotion.”
The Legco rule book includes a list of words considered offensive or insulting, including calling lawmakers or officials stupid, shameless or a lackey.
Leung’s predecessor, Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, in 2013 and 2014 did not throw out lawmakers for accusing former chief executive Leung Chun-ying and Tsang himself of lying.
Check the British parliamentary rule book – saying someone lied is the most serious allegation
In the past five years, lawmakers had at least 13 times mentioned the term lying when criticising the government, officials, or their political opponents. Last June, pro-establishment lawmaker Holden Chow Ho-ding accused Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu of it.
Mo said she did not see why telling the truth was offensive.
“I’m convinced Carrie Lam is lying and I just told the truth that she’s lying through her teeth,” Mo said.
Civic Party lawmaker Jeremy Tam Man-ho, who was also thrown out, said Leung should have at least invited Mo to clarify why she felt the chief executive was lying.
“Any member of a parliament around the world can challenge their officials or head of government for lying – that’s only a fair criticism,” Tam said.
Leung insisted he was right to throw Mo out.
“If you check the British parliamentary rule book, saying someone lied is the most serious allegation,” Leung said.
