Hong Kong lawmakers, activists charged over chaotic Legco meeting can enter pleas in February, court rules
- The eight were granted a three-month adjournment on Friday, as they hope to first weigh the outcome of a similar prosecution at city’s top court
- Their case is one of four such proceedings examining how much freedom a 1985 Legco ordinance grants lawmakers to disturb meetings
West Kowloon Court on Friday granted the application for a three-month adjournment to the eight, who face a total of 15 charges stemming from the May 8 House Committee meeting, which descended into shouting and scuffles.
The charged group consists of Democratic Party lawmakers Wu Chi-wai, Helena Wong Pik-wan, Andrew Wan Siu-kin and Ted Hui Chi-fung; Labour Party chairman Steven Kwok Wing-kin and lawmaker Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung; and former lawmakers Eddie Chu Hoi-dick and Raymond Chan Chi-chuen.
All except Wu have been charged with contempt under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance, accused of “[creating] a disturbance that interrupted or was likely to interrupt the proceedings” during the meeting.
Six of them – Wu, Wan, Hui, Kwok, Chu and Chan – were also charged with one to two additional counts of obstructing a Legco officer under the same legislation.