Police were called during Wednesday’s meeting at the Legislative Council after at least three security guards were taken away in ambulances during scenes of chaos. Youngspiration’s Yau Wai-Ching and Baggio Leung Chung-hang had attempted to barge into a meeting after they were barred from entering to re-take their oaths as lawmakers.

HKFP_Live: Injuries and turmoil at Hong Kong’s legislature as Youngspiration duo barge into chamber

The pro-Beijing camp called the police for assistance.

police legco
Photo: Stanley Leung/HKFP.

Pro-democracy lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung criticised pro-Beijing lawmakers for making a “very severe” decision without justification.

police legco ambulance
Photo: Stanley Leung/HKFP.

Pro-Beijing Starry Lee, who admitted to playing a part in the decision to call the police, said that at least four security guards were injured and that at least three needed to be sent to the hospital.

starry lee
Starry Lee. Photo: Stanley Leung/HKFP.

“We offer our sincere condolences and hope that they recover soon,” Lee said.

ambulance at legco
Photo: Don North.

Lee added that she was extremely disappointed by the Youngspiration lawmaker’s attempt to barge into the meeting. She said that some of those involved may have committed an offence.

police legco ambulance
Photo: Stanley Leung/HKFP.

Lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung said that Yau and Baggio Leung were elected by popular vote, and that police should not be called to interfere in the legislature’s internal affairs.

police legco
Photo: Kris Cheng/HKFP.

The lawmaker added that all that Yau and Leung were asking was whether they could retake their oaths in order to fulfil their duties as lawmakers.

Yau Wai-ching and Baggio Leung.
Baggio Leung and Yau Wai-ching. Photo: Stanley Leung/HKFP.

“We do not want to hurt any security guard or anyone who [is] now working in the chamber, including all media. This is not our aim,” said Baggio Leung.

Yau Wai-ching said: “Our only aim is to enter into the chamber, but the fact is the president won’t let us in.”

LegCo President Andrew Leung
LegCo President Andrew Leung. Photo: Stanley Leung/HKFP.

Legislative Council President Andrew Leung suspended the meeting to next Wednesday. Earlier, independent localist lawmaker Lau Siu-lai completed a second oath successfully.

police legco
Photo: Kris Cheng/HKFP.

On Thursday, a judicial review related to the oaths will be heard at the High Court. Reports suggest that Beijing may intervene to issue an interpretation of Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law.

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Ellie Ng

Ellie Ng has written for Foreign Policy, the Daily Telegraph, Global Voices Online and others.