Chaos as opposition lawmakers try to scuttle special meeting

Abraham Shek Lai-him was besieged by opposition lawmakers and prevented from presiding over a meeting to select a chairman for the committee to deliberate the bill.

In that incident, the scuffling resulted in a fainted legislator having to be carried out of the chamber in a stretcher by medics called to the scene. Six opposition lawmakers were subsequently arrested for their involvements in the melee.

In the latest impasse, most criticism focuses on opposition lawmaker Dennis Kwok Wing-hang, who presided over all 17 meetings and allowed other opposition lawmakers to keep holding up the election by discussing issues unrelated to the exercise, such as the security of the Legislative Council Complex.

The special meeting on Friday afternoon was scheduled press ahead with some bills currently on the backburner.

Benjamin Yu Yuk-hoi and Suen Jenkin argued in their legal capacity that Lee, as the current chairperson, was already vested with stipulated powers to conduct the committee's business of scrutinizing bills and subsidiary proposals tabled in the legislature.

During the committee's morning session on Friday, some opposition lawmakers challenged Lee's authority to hold a special meeting.

Speaking to reporters later, Lee said as the incumbent chairperson, she had the authority to convene meetings to discuss all items on agenda save those pertaining to the election of a new chairperson. Lee pointed out she drew the authority from the Rules of Procedure and the House Rules.

Lee ruled out any conflict of interest in holding the special meeting saying it had nothing to do with electing the next chairperson of LegCo's House Committee.