The Legislative Council president has said he “strongly condemns the violent action” of two Youngspiration lawmakers and a group of people assisting them that led to the injuries of six security guards who were admitted to hospital.
“This was an organised violent storming,” he said. “That’s why we must let the police handle the matter.”
Leung previously barred the Youngspiration duo from entering the meeting until a legal challenge against them is concluded.
But the duo barged into the chamber on Wednesday morning with help from several pro-democracy lawmakers, and attempted to do so again two more times after the meeting was switched to conference room 1.
President Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen said the group insulted and bumped against the security guards. He said there were fewer than ten security guards present.
He said that as the chairman of the LegCo Commission, he had a discussion with pro-Beijing lawmaker Starry Lee Wai-king, who is the vice-chair of the Commission and the House Committee chair, and instructed the secretariat to request assistance from the police in order to “maintain order.”
Leung said he informed House Committee vice-chair Dennis Kwok Wing-hang after the decision was made. He also called for the meeting to be adjourned owing to safety issues caused by Yau Wai-ching and Baggio Leung Chun-hang.
“The actions of these two lawmakers neglected the safety of others,” he said. “I will discuss with the Commission about how to conduct meetings in an orderly manner – the Commission is also responsible for the safety of secretariat staff members.”
“I wish to express my appreciation for the dedication and diligence of our security staff.”
He said LegCo will only seek assistance from police if its own security guards could not handle the matter.
Leung dismissed the duo’s proactive oath-taking during the meeting at the chamber.
“The chamber is for discussions, not charging,” he said. “We have asked the police to strictly [investigate] all criminal actions.”
He declined to comment on the possibility of an interpretation of the Basic Law during the legal challenge at the High Court which will be heard on Thursday, saying it was not his concern.
Before Andrew Leung spoke, Yau and Baggio Leung said they will send the injured guards their sympathies, although they did not apologise.
“We do not want to hurt any security guards 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 the chamber, but the fact is the president won’t let us in.”
