One of Chan’s pan-democrat colleagues Andrew Wan Siu-kin also said he suffered bruising as he accused two pro-establishment figures Wong Ting-kwong and Junius Ho Kwan-yiu of hitting him in the chest.

The panel, which scrutinises bills and decides when they can be tabled for a final vote, has been gridlocked since October because of its failure to elect a chair amid a bitter row between the pro-establishment and opposition camps.

The political dispute turned physical on Friday after Lee took the chairman’s seat to start clearing the backlog of bills for review.

At the height of the struggle that ensued, footage showed Chan and other pan-democrats charging at security guards that were surrounding Lee before Kwok was seen moving in.

Accusing Kwok of assault, Chan said: “I’m only protesting against Starry Lee and without any direct confrontation [with her], but Kwok pinned me down and dragged me for a few metres. I was surprised before I came to realise: who is attacking me from behind?” Chan said.

“Everyone can see from the video, this is objectively assault. There is nothing personal between me and Kwok Wai-keung. I just feel he was out of control.”

Chan said an MRI scan had revealed a flaring up of his long-term back pain. He added he could also launch a private lawsuit against Kwok if police did not follow up his complaint.

Kwok, who is from the Federation of Trade Unions, had not immediately responded to requests to comment on Chan’s version of events.

Responding to Wan’s allegations, Ho said: “It’s not the first time I've been reported to police, [Wan can] just go right ahead.”

Wong said: “I was just standing there defending Starry, it’s rather [Wan] pushing towards me.”

Alice Mak Mei-kuen, who is also from the FTU, has already reported activist Kwok Wing-kin, from the Labour Party, for allegedly throwing a copy of the legislature’s rule book from the public gallery at pro-establishment lawmakers.

But the pro-establishment camp has largely adopted a wait-and-see approach on whether to involve police.

Quat, who is also from Lee’s party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said the camp was “seriously considering” making a complaint against the pan-democrats.

She also defended Kwok saying he was responding to Chan trying to push against the security guards.

“If Chan is not pushing, Kwok won’t be dragging him from behind. He’s [Kowk] only protecting others, is that even a problem?” Quat said.

Another pro-establishment lawmaker Priscilla Leung Mei-fun warned of countermoves from her camp, although she stressed she preferred a political resolution to the House Committee situation.

Legco showdown: lawmakers set for chaotic House Committee face-off

“If someone reports the case to the police, there could be more similar reports to the police with more consequences to come,” Leung said.

Lee blames the committee’s vice-chairman Dennis Kwok for allowing his opposition colleagues to filibuster through proceedings to avoid having an election, while blocking the passage of legislation.

Lee, who is the incumbent House Committee chairwoman standing for re-election, and her allies cleared 14 bills on Friday, setting up committees to scrutinise some of them.

The camp also moved a step closer to passing the controversial national anthem bill, which has not yet been put on the agenda.

After Friday’s meeting, the government could technically give notice to resume the second reading of the bill, which criminalises any public and deliberate act that insults March of the Volunteers.

The Post has asked the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau whether it would give formal notice to resume the bill.

Assuming the government did notify the house committee, the national anthem bill could be tabled at the full council on May 27 the earliest, according to Legco procedures.

‘Legco could face legal challenges if it bypasses House Committee election process’

Beijing heavyweight Tam Yiu-chung, the city’s sole delegate to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, the national legislature, has called for an end to the saga and a return to the usual order of business at Legco’s House Committee.

“I hope the lawmakers will stop opposing, enough is enough,” Tam said. “Legco’s work should return to normal and they should stop stirring up trouble in the House Committee.”

The Hong Kong government welcomed the House Committee “breakthrough”, pledging it would “fully cooperate” with the legislative work in the remaining session.

It also appealed to lawmakers to support the national anthem bill among the six pieces of draft legislation under scrutiny, “so that the efforts of the government, Legco and stakeholders will not be wasted”.