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Carrie Lam's key speech suspended amid rowdy scenes in Hong Kong legislature – live Carrie Lam's key speech suspended amid rowdy scenes in Hong Kong legislature – live
(32 minutes later)
Hong Kong’s leader has begun her annual policy speech, a major address in which the chief executive traditional outlines their policy agenda for the year. She tried to deliver the address inside the chamber but was twice drowned out by pro-democracy lawmakers who shouted her down and called on her to resign.
Before she began, pro-government lawmaker Alice Mak condemned pro-democracy lawmakers, accusing them of “bringing street violence into the legislation chamber. People don’t want to see this kind of behaviour.”
The Hong Kong government has issued a statement on its website.
Owing to the current circumstances, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, was not able to deliver the entire Policy Address at the Legislative Council today (October 16). To allow members of the public to know in full the various initiatives in it, she will deliver the Policy Address to members of the public through video at about 12.15pm today. Members of the public can view the broadcast on TV and the Policy Address website (www.policyaddress.gov.hk).
Carrie Lam’s annual policy address has been delayed until 12:15 local time (about 20 minutes from now) after her speech in front of the Legco was interrupted twice by loud protests from pro-democracy legislators, who shouted at her to step down, and yelled about their “five demands”.
Lawmakers are scathing about Lam’s decision to resort to a televised speech.
“It’s a historic moment, she’s so terrified that she needs to hide behind a camera,” says Claudia Mo.
“Our five demands are very clear, not one less. I really urge her, if she cannot govern Hong Kong, if she has no determination to govern Hong Kong and she has no ability and isn’t capable in administrating Hong Kong, please step down. This is the only way that we can have a good future and this is only way Hong Kong can move forward.”
Pro-democracy lawmaker Tanya Chan urges #CarrieLam to step down if she is not capable of governing #HongKong pic.twitter.com/3yeGbEcXfT
Student activist, Joshua Wong, has tweeted a picture from today’s sitting of Legco, during which a lawmaker projected some words onto the wall behind Carrie Lam: “Five demands, not one less”.Student activist, Joshua Wong, has tweeted a picture from today’s sitting of Legco, during which a lawmaker projected some words onto the wall behind Carrie Lam: “Five demands, not one less”.
FIVE Demands, Not one less! (Source: EyePress) pic.twitter.com/UXM3Yb6odPFIVE Demands, Not one less! (Source: EyePress) pic.twitter.com/UXM3Yb6odP
Lawmaker Charles Mok is addressing the press now: “When 80% of the people of HK believe she does not have a mandate to lead Hong Kong, she has no right to be in the chamber of Legco to deliver a policy address.Lawmaker Charles Mok is addressing the press now: “When 80% of the people of HK believe she does not have a mandate to lead Hong Kong, she has no right to be in the chamber of Legco to deliver a policy address.
He adds that pro-democracy lawmakers will deliver a “people’s policy address”.He adds that pro-democracy lawmakers will deliver a “people’s policy address”.
Claudia Mo, a pro-democracy lawmaker has addressed the media. She says: “She is just a puppet on strings played by Beijing. Carrie Lam should be ashamed of herself, she is conducting the biggest sellout of Hong Kong.”Claudia Mo, a pro-democracy lawmaker has addressed the media. She says: “She is just a puppet on strings played by Beijing. Carrie Lam should be ashamed of herself, she is conducting the biggest sellout of Hong Kong.”
Pro-democracy lawmakers chant: "Carrie Lam, step down!" and Tania Chan accuses Carrie Lam of being the reason people are taking to the streets. pic.twitter.com/himjNEYogAPro-democracy lawmakers chant: "Carrie Lam, step down!" and Tania Chan accuses Carrie Lam of being the reason people are taking to the streets. pic.twitter.com/himjNEYogA
Pro-democracy lawmaker Tanya Chan, flanked by other pro-democracy lawmakers, told reporters that Carrie Lam is “the source of inciting people to take to the streets”.Pro-democracy lawmaker Tanya Chan, flanked by other pro-democracy lawmakers, told reporters that Carrie Lam is “the source of inciting people to take to the streets”.
“Based on what can she rule Hong Kong?” she asks.“Based on what can she rule Hong Kong?” she asks.
Chan played a recording of protesters screaming from being beaten during protests and said “Her hands are full of blood, based on what can she be a chief executive?”Chan played a recording of protesters screaming from being beaten during protests and said “Her hands are full of blood, based on what can she be a chief executive?”
She is now addressing the press in English, calling on Lam to step down, saying: “Please don’t let us suffer anymore, please go!”She is now addressing the press in English, calling on Lam to step down, saying: “Please don’t let us suffer anymore, please go!”
The chair has suspended the Legco again and Carrie Lam has left the building for a second time after pro-democracy lawmakers once again interrupted her speech.The chair has suspended the Legco again and Carrie Lam has left the building for a second time after pro-democracy lawmakers once again interrupted her speech.
They are now standing as a group in front of the press and chanting: “Five demands, not one less” and “Carrie Lam! Step down!”They are now standing as a group in front of the press and chanting: “Five demands, not one less” and “Carrie Lam! Step down!”
Pro-democracy lawmakers carrying signs showing Carrie Lam with blood on her hands are evicted from the city's Legislative Council after screaming protests at Carrie Lam as she attempted to address the council. pic.twitter.com/gG61YtLSdGPro-democracy lawmakers carrying signs showing Carrie Lam with blood on her hands are evicted from the city's Legislative Council after screaming protests at Carrie Lam as she attempted to address the council. pic.twitter.com/gG61YtLSdG
The chair has evicted four more pro-democracy lawmakers from the chamber, bringing the total number of those evicted to six, counting the two from before.The chair has evicted four more pro-democracy lawmakers from the chamber, bringing the total number of those evicted to six, counting the two from before.
The chair has also confiscated the equipment of one of the lawmakers, who used a projector to project characters onto Lam as she spoke.The chair has also confiscated the equipment of one of the lawmakers, who used a projector to project characters onto Lam as she spoke.
The lawmakers are carrying signs showing a smiling Lam holding up her hands that are covered in blood.The lawmakers are carrying signs showing a smiling Lam holding up her hands that are covered in blood.
Rowdy scenes in Hong Kong's parliament as pro-democracy lawmakers shout to drown out Carrie Lam's annual policy speech. pic.twitter.com/MMDEuCbd8MRowdy scenes in Hong Kong's parliament as pro-democracy lawmakers shout to drown out Carrie Lam's annual policy speech. pic.twitter.com/MMDEuCbd8M
One lawmaker has advanced to the front of the chamber and security members immediately ran to the front of the chamber to block the aisles and any access from lawmakers to Lam.One lawmaker has advanced to the front of the chamber and security members immediately ran to the front of the chamber to block the aisles and any access from lawmakers to Lam.
Carrie Lam has re-entered the building after the chair of Legco admonished pro-democracy lawmakers and saying that people have the right to listen to Lam’s speech.
She is speaking now but the shouting from lawmakers is deafening, she can barely be heard above their protests.
The chair of the Legco has resumed his seat and is speaking to lawmakers, who have begun chanting again.
The lawmakers were shouting “Five demands, not one less” and their placards have the same slogan on them, this is a reference to five key requests from protesters, which are:
an independent inquiry into police behaviour
amnesty for those arrested
democratic reforms to give Hong Kong residents universal suffrage
the withdrawal of the emergency law which allows for a ban of face masks during protests
a halt to categorising the protests as riots
Some placards also read: “Reclaim the legislature, resume political reform”.
Things have quietened down in the Legco now, but there is still no sign of Carrie Lam. Her speech was barely able to begin before pro-democracy lawmakers shouted her down to the point that the policy address could not continue.
The chair of Legco has announced the session was to be suspended due to the shouting of of pro-democracy lawmakers.
Pro-democracy lawmaker Tanya Chan was ordered to leave the chamber, another, Raymond Chan, was escorted out of the chamber by security staff.
Carrie Lam has left the chamber. There is no word whether the speech will resume.
Carrie Lam has arrived to deliver her address but is being shouted down by pro-democracy lawmakers who are shouting criticism and waving placards. They are all dressed in black shirts with slogans written on them.
Hong Kong’s Legislative Council has not met since June. Protesters stormed its headquarters back in early July. This was early on in the protests and marked a shift in tone of the protests, from largely peaceful, enormous gatherings of citizens, number up to one million people, to more organised protests that had a tone of palpable anger.
People were divided over the decision to storm the Legco, with experienced pro-democracy campaigners in the city saying the move went too far and risked turning public opinion against them.
Tight security near Legco ahead of speech
Images coming in from Hong Kong show serious security measures that are being taken to protect the Legco building as the council resumes sessions for the first time in months.
Here’s the agenda of the Legislative Council for today:
Wednesday 16 October 2019 at 11amI. Papers to be laid on the Table of the Council51 items of subsidiary legislation/instruments and 20 other papers to be laid on the Table of the Council are set out in the Appendix
II. Delivery of the Policy Address by the Chief ExecutiveThe Chief Executive to deliver the Policy Address under Rule 13(1A) of the Rules of Procedure
III. Government BillResumption of Second Reading debate under Rule 64(2) of the Rules of Procedure for the purpose of making an announcement of the withdrawal of the BillFugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of today’s events in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam is set to deliver her annual policy address today when the Legislative Council (Legco) of Hong Kong resumes its sessions.
Lam said yesterday that the Legco would launch economic measures to ease the land and housing situation, after mainland Chinese officials insisted unaffordable housing and employment issues are the “root cause” of Hong Kong’s social unrest.
She also hinted that the government of Hong Kong may introduce further measures to suppress the protests, despite huge opposition to the emergency regulations that have already been introduced.
On 4 October Lam announced the government had invoked a colonial-era Emergency Regulations Ordinance – last used 52 years ago – to pass a regulation forbidding the use of face masks, bypassing the legislature. The move sparked widespread anger and has since prompted hundreds of thousands to don masks and take to the streets in defiance of the ban.
Asked whether she would consider invoking emergency powers again to introduce more measures to quell unrest, Lam said “we need very strong reasons” to justify further measures, but also insisted that “we should consider every measure to end violence”.