Hong Kong justice department set to strike down prosecution bid by former opposition lawmaker against rival over Legco chaos

Ex-legislator Raymond Chan receives notice from authorities while also facing charges on same May 8 incident

Echoing ‘selective prosecution’ sentiment of opposition camp, Chan questions why Kwok Wai-keung, who was involved in scuffle with him, is not facing charges

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Legco descends into chaos as lawmakers clash during a House Committee meeting in May. Photo: Handout

Published: 9:39pm, 6 Nov 2020Updated: 3:59am, 7 Nov 2020

Hong Kong’s justice department is set to strike down a private prosecution a former opposition lawmaker had brought against his pro-Beijing rival over assault in a chaotic Legislative Council meeting, after charging the former with contempt over the same incident.

Ex-legislator Raymond Chan Chi-chuen said he received on Friday a Department of Justice notice on the termination of his legal bid, just an hour after he had stepped out of West Kowloon Court where he faced his share of charges in the afternoon.

The notice, seen by the Post, said the department would take over from Chan’s prosecution against pro-Beijing lawmaker Kwok Wai-keung, whose act was captured in news videos.

The department would on next Monday “offer no evidence” against Kwok during a court hearing – a legal line meaning prosecutors are dropping the case, according to the letter signed by senior assistant director of public prosecutions Anthony Chau.

Lawmaker Raymond Chan in a protest in May. Photo: Nora Tam

Chan denounced what he called a state of partiality. “If you support the government and belong to the pro-establishment camp, there is nothing for you to be afraid of even if you break the law,” he said.