Legislative Council President Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen has said he did not receive a letter from the ousted localist lawmakers asking for more time to return HK$1.86m worth of salaries and subsidies. Leung said they also failed to return access passes to the legislature and keys to their offices.
The keys are made in Germany and cost “several hundred dollars” each, he said.
Baggio Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching were challenged by the government after they protested during their oaths of allegiance, using a term some deemed an insult to China. They lost the case at the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal. The Legislative Council then demanded they pay back HK$929,573 each on or before Monday. Baggio Leung says that keys were returned to the legislature on November 18.
Baggio Leung told HKFP on Monday that he has prepared a reply to the LegCo secretariat asking for postponement until a ruling by the Court of Final Appeal is handed down. He also argued that the salaries and subsidies paid to them between October 1 and 12 should not be claimed back.
Andrew Leung said he has yet to receive the letter, and the LegCo Commission – a body of lawmakers who debate administrative matters – would handle the issue seriously should there be a special situation, reported Commercial Radio.
Otherwise, Leung said, the secretariat will send a letter to the duo to demand the payment, and the Commission will discuss in mid-January whether to take legal action.
Andrew Leung said Baggio Leung last month submitted some receipts for their operational expenses, which showed that he bought five iPhones and 11 computers, with a total cost of around HK$300,000. Yau has not provided any receipts.
Andrew Leung added that the secretariat last week tried to remind the duo to return the salaries and subsidies, but Baggio Leung did not pick up – a message was left. Yau’s phone number appeared to be suspended.
