The Hong Kong legislature will continue debating on the political reform bill tomorrow, after president Tsang Yok-sing declared that the meeting resume 9am Thursday.
It is still unclear as to when the political reform bill will be put to vote, but Tsang said he anticipated the process to be finished by 1pm Friday.
Outside the LegCo compound, both pan-democratic and pro-Beijing demonstrators protested over the controversial political reform bill.
The protest zone outside LegCo was divided into two areas, with barricades separating both camps from each other. There were few to none physical clashes, but constant quarrels were seen at the barricades separating the two sides.
Inside the pan-democratic camp, slogans referencing to the Umbrella Movement were put up. Some protesters were seen distributing “I demand universal suffrage” banners and “2017, don’t make it happen” stickers to others inside the protest camp.
The colonial flag was also seen waving inside the pan-democratic camp.
Students were also among the protesters in the camp. Albert Chan, a high school student from the Kowloon East Joint-school Political Reform Concern Group, was inside a tent labeled “Chartered Road Study Room”. He said that the tent was set up for “protesters to take a rest” there today.
There were more protesters gathering in the pro-Beijing camp area than the pan-democratic camp. Many middle-aged to elderly were dressed in the same colour and followed “order from leaders” there.
Various prominent figures were invited to speak on stage. Robert Chow from Silent Majority for Hong Kong told the crowd that “clowns may block Hong Kong’s universal suffrage once”, but not the “democratic process of Hong Kong.” He added that those turned up in the pro-Beijing camp is “supporting democracy here.”
Inside the legislature, lawmakers deliver their final speech on the political reform in Hong Kong before the bill is put to vote.
Lee Cheuk-yan, a pan-democratic lawmaker from the Labour Party, said that the significance of the voting amounts “to be, or not to be Hong Kong”. He claimed that passing the bill will cause Hong Kong to lose its unique identity, because it shows “Hong Kong people are willing to subordinate to any orders from Beijing.”
Lawmakers will continue debating on the bill 9am Tuesday in the legislative chamber.
