Chaos as Hong Kong ‘state of the union’ disrupted

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has been forced to suspend her annual address after being heckled in parliament.

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 – Ms Lam delivered the address by video instead.

It means the extradition bill – the trigger for months of protests – could not be withdrawn formally.

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 its first opportunity to withdraw the bill altogether.

But as Chief Executive Lam was about to begin her speech, opposition lawmakers began shouting and climbing on tables.

They projected the words “Five demands – not one less” on the wall behind her. Since the protests began in June, they have widened from rallies against the bill to five key demands – including universal suffrage.

Security tried to control members of the press and protesting pro-democracy lawmakers after Carrie Lam had to leave the chamber for a second time

Opposition lawmaker Tanya Chan said Ms Lam was to blame for the Hong Kong’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.”

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 Hong Kong’s economic future.

After the assembly was suspended a second time, a pre-recorded speech was made available as a video on the Legco website instead.

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.

She 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?

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 bill was withdrawn in September but demonstrations continued. Demands have widened to include genuine universal suffrage and an inquiry into police behaviour.

Protests began as soon as Carrie Lam arrived

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.

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.

How did the protests escalate?

• First protest took place in June
• In July, protesters stormed Legco, spraying graffiti and defacing symbols
• In August, one protester was injured in the eye, leading to activists wearing eye patches to show solidarity
• Hundreds of flights from Hong Kong were cancelled that month
• In September, Ms Lam announced she would withdraw the extradition bill but most protesters said it was “too little, too late”
• On 1 October, China celebrated 70 years of Communist Party rule and Hong Kong saw another day of violent clashes
• An 18-year-old was shot in the chest with a live bullet and protesters fought officers with poles, petrol bombs and other projectiles
• On 4 October the government banned face masks, invoking powers dating back to colonial rule.
• Last Sunday, peaceful rallies again descended into clashes with railway stations and shops deemed to be pro-Beijing targeted.

BBC