Several pro-democratic politicians have sent their thanks to pro-Beijing lawmaker Christopher Chung Shu-kun for recording a scene of “injustice” at the Legislative Council.
Chung, commonly known by his nickname “Tree Gun,” uploaded a video he recorded at the Public Works Subcommittee meeting on Tuesday. Lawmakers were debating an additional HK$19.6 billion of funds for the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong express rail link, which has been deemed a “white elephant project” by some pan-democratic lawmakers .
The recording started after Lo Wai-kwok, chairman of the subcommittee, ordered lawmaker “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung to be removed from the meeting room, saying that Leung insulted him. Leung said Lo “is not a human” as he did not allow lawmakers to ask more questions on the funding.
The action was part of Lo’s attempt to cut short the debate at the subcommittee and move the funding application to a vote, after being delayed for more than a month by the filibuster efforts of pan-democratic lawmakers.
Security guards were trying to remove Leung as he refused to leave. Pan-democratic lawmakers then stood up and protected him.
“Long Hair creating a disturbance, pan-democratic lawmakers kicking up a fuss. Hong Kong’s legislature stumbles at every step…” Chung was unhappy with the scene and thus recorded it.
But some pro-democracy politicians thanked Chung, a pro-Beijing lawmaker, for recording the scene, since the regular LegCo video live feed had ceased.
“Thank you Dr Chung for recording the legislative process, which shoes how people’s money is recklessly spent on funding bottomless pits,” district councillor Rayman Chow Wa-hung said on social media.
“The recording also showed how the chairman abused his power to suppress all reasonable questions.”
Chiu Yan-loy, a Labour Party member, also thanked Chung for recording the scene showing pan-democratic lawmakers “united to defend the honour of the legislature”.
Many hailed Chung as a “citizen journalist” for documenting the scene.
“This video could win a grand award for internet citizen [journalism], as it showed [lawmakers] Cyd Ho Sau-lan and Claudia Mo Man-ching protecting Long Hair from security guards,” said Damon Wong Chun-pong, a journalist at Inmedia Hong Kong.
