HK legislature to push ahead with China anthem bill after chaotic scuffles

HONG KONG: Hong Kong's legislature plunged into chaotic scuffles for a second time this month, as proBeijing lawmakers on Monday took control of a key committee, paving the way for a debate on a bill that would criminalise abuse of China's national anthem.

Pro-democracy legislators charged at security guards surrounding pro-establishment lawmaker Chan Kin-Por, who had taken the chairman's seat in the meeting against procedural objections by the opposition. Guards hauled several legislators out of the chamber, some kicking and shouting. Some tried leaping over the guards from benchtops to take back the chairman's seat only to be forced back. The Democrats chanted "foul play" and held a placard reading "CCP (China Communist Party) tramples HK legislature."

Opposition lawmaker Ted Hui shouted at Chan that the meeting was "illegal." Even as the protests continued, Chan called a vote for a chairperson of the committee that was won by pro-Beijing lawmaker Starry Lee. Lee's camp condemned the violence and pledged to push ahead with the anthem bill. "It's painful to watch and it's saddening to see a legislative assembly degenerate into this level of behaviour," pro-Beijing lawmaker Martin Liao said.

Beijing has accused the former British colony's prodemocracy lawmakers of "malicious" filibustering to prevent some proposed bills from going to a final vote, effectively paralysing the legislature. It was the second time in 10 days that have legislators pushed and shoved each other over the procedures of electing a chairperson.

Last May, scuffles broke out in the legislature over a proposed extradition bill that if passed could have seen people stand trial in courts in mainland China. The bill sparked often-violent protests in the Hong Kong and was later scrapped.