CE returns to Legco, amid slogans and expulsions

CE returns to Legco, amid slogans and expulsions

Legco was the scene of slogan shouting and expulsions of lawmakers again as Chief Executive Carrie Lam returned to face councillors after her last foray into the chamber in November led to chaotic scenes, forcing the abandonment of her policy address delivery.



On Thursday, Lam was able to make both her opening speech and answer questions, but was frequently interrupted.



In total, 13 lawmakers were kicked out of the chamber during the question and answer session with the CE, mostly for misconduct as they shouted from their seats. Among those ejected was pro-Beijing unionist Michael Luk who was sent out over an argument with the opposition.



The opposition lawmakers had again greeted the CE with slogans as they lined up in the lobby leading to the chamber with "five demands, not one less" placards.



Some of them continued to raise this slogan of the pro-democracy protest movement that has gripped the city for seven months.



As Lam started answering questions from lawmakers, opposition members continued to heckle her and many of them attributed the recent landslide victory of Tsai Ing-wen in Taiwan's presidential poll to Lam's missteps in Hong Kong.



Security officials were called in multiple times to force out pro-democracy lawmakers who shouted slogans and held up placards, including one that portrayed Lam as a vampire with bat wings.



At one point, Democratic Party lawmaker Andrew Wan asked Lam, a practising Catholic, whether she was afraid of going to hell.



When she dodged the question in her reply, he asked her “When are you going to die?" (Additional reporting by AFP, AP)