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Chaos as Hong Kong's Carrie Lam tries to give 'state of the union' Hong Kong's Carrie Lam abandons speech after protests
(about 1 hour later)
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam was forced to suspend her annual address after being heckled in the city's parliament. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has been forced to suspend her annual address after being heckled in parliament.
Opposition lawmakers disrupted the session from the start by shouting and projecting slogans. Opposition lawmakers disrupted the Legislative Council session by shouting and projecting slogans behind her.
After a first interruption, the session resumed only to be interrupted again. It was then suspended, with the address delivered by pre-recorded video. After a first interruption, the session resumed only to be interrupted again. It was then suspended - Ms Lam delivered the address by video instead.
The suspension means the extradition bill - which sparked months of protests - was unable to be withdrawn formally. It means the extradition bill - the trigger for months of protests - could not be withdrawn formally.
Hong Kong has experienced months of protests since the extradition bill was introduced in April. The bill was suspended in July, but Wednesday's meeting was the first time the Legislative Council (Legco) has resumed since it was stormed by protesters in July, and was the first opportunity to withdraw the bill altogether.
The Legislative Council (Legco) resumed on Wednesday for the first time since it was stormed by protesters in July. But as Chief Executive Lam was about to begin her speech, opposition lawmakers began shouting and climbing on tables.
Now the withdrawal of the bill will only be possible once Legco resumes. They also projected the words "Five demands - not one less" on the wall behind her. Since the protests began, they have widened from rallies against the bill to five key demands - including universal suffrage.
The bill was suspended in July - but the move failed to quell protests in the city. Opposition lawmaker Tanya Chan said Ms Lam was to blame for the Hong Kong's troubles.
On Wednesday, as the city's chief executive was about to begin her speech, opposition lawmakers projected the slogan "Five demands - not one less" on the wall behind her.
Since the protests began in June, they have widened from rallies against the extradition bill to five key demands - including universal suffrage.
Opposition lawmaker Tanya Chan said Ms Lam was to blame for the city's troubles.
"Both her hands are soaked with blood," she said. "We hope Carrie Lam withdraws and quits. She has no governance ability. She is not suitable to be chief executive.""Both her hands are soaked with blood," she said. "We hope Carrie Lam withdraws and quits. She has no governance ability. She is not suitable to be chief executive."
It was the first time a Hong Kong chief executive had been unable to deliver a policy address in the chamber.It was the first time a Hong Kong chief executive had been unable to deliver a policy address in the chamber.
Pro-establishment lawmakers condemned the interruption of the session - saying the address was important for the city's economic future. Pro-establishment lawmakers condemned the interruption of the session - saying the address was important for Hong Kong's economic future.
Ms Lam's interrupted speech came just hours after US lawmakers supported Hong Kong's protesters by passing a bill aimed at upholding human rights in the city. After the assembly was suspended, a pre-recorded speech was made available on the Legco website instead.
After the assembly was suspended a second time, the speech was made available as a video on the Legco website - instead of live from the parliament chamber. In the address, Ms Lam stressed her commitment to "one country, two systems" - the parallel political system introduced in Hong Kong after British rule ended - and said calls for Hong Kong independence would not be tolerated.
In the address, she stressed her commitment to "one country, two systems" - introduced after British rule ended - and that Hong Kong independence was not tolerable. She announced several housing and infrastructure policies, saying housing was the most urgent issue the city faces.
She then announced several housing and infrastructure policies, saying housing was the most urgent issue the city faces. The developments came just hours after Hong Kong protesters won a show of support from US lawmakers, who passed a bill aimed at upholding human rights in the city.
What are the Hong Kong protests about?What are the Hong Kong protests about?
Hong Kong is part of China but, as a former British colony, has some autonomy and people have more rights.Hong Kong is part of China but, as a former British colony, has some autonomy and people have more rights.
The protests started in June against plans to allow extradition to the mainland - which many feared would undermine the city's freedoms and judicial independence.The protests started in June against plans to allow extradition to the mainland - which many feared would undermine the city's freedoms and judicial independence.
The bill was withdrawn in September but demonstrations continued. Demands have widened to include genuine universal suffrage and an inquiry into police behaviour. The government in September promised the bill would be withdrawn once parliament resumed but demonstrations continued.
Demands have since widened into five key demands:
In a conversation with the EU representative in Hong Kong earlier this week, Ms Lam reportedly ruled out even debating universal suffrage in the current climate.
Protests have taken place every weekend over the past month and in every district, causing widespread disruption.Protests have taken place every weekend over the past month and in every district, causing widespread disruption.
Clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent, with police firing live bullets and protesters attacking officers and throwing petrol bombs.Clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent, with police firing live bullets and protesters attacking officers and throwing petrol bombs.
Ms Lam's address was scheduled just days after Chinese President Xi Jinping said any attempt to divide China would end in "bodies smashed and bones ground to powder". Ms Lam's address was scheduled just days after Chinese President Xi Jinping said any attempt to divide China would end in "bodies smashed and bones ground to powder" - comments seen as an implicit warning to Hong Kong.
While he did not mention any particular region, his comment was seen as a warning to Hong Kong's protesters.
How did the protests escalate?How did the protests escalate?
In July, hundreds of protesters stormed Legco, spraying graffiti and defacing symbols of the Hong Kong law-making body.
In August, one protester was injured in the eye, leading to demonstrators wearing red-coloured eye patches to show their solidarity.
Protests at Hong Kong international airport then led to hundreds of flights being cancelled.
When the bill was finally withdrawn in September, most protesters said it was "too little, too late".
On 1 October, while China was celebrating 70 years of Communist Party rule, Hong Kong experienced what authorities said was one of its most "violent and chaotic days".
An 18-year-old was shot in the chest with a live bullet, one of six rounds were fired by police. Protesters also fought officers with poles, petrol bombs and other projectiles.
The government then banned protesters wearing face masks, invoking powers dating back to colonial rule. Many activists continue to defy the ban.
Last Sunday, peaceful rallies again descended into clashes with railway stations and shops deemed to be pro-Beijing targeted.