Three Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers have been fined after throwing odorous objects in the legislature and disrupting national anthem bill meetings.
Democratic Party’s Ted Hui dropped a rotten plant in front of Legislative Council President Andrew Leung during a meeting on May 28 and has been fined HK$52,000. Democrats Ray Chan and Eddie Chu threw bio-fertiliser on the floor of the chamber on June 4 and were fined roughly HK$100,000 each.
The meetings were set to include the second reading and third reading of a controversial bill criminalising mockery of March of the Volunteers but were temporarily interrupted due to the disruptions.
The bill passed on June 4 despite Hui throwing liquid on the floor a second time.
Leung told reporters on Tuesday that the amount fined would cover replacing carpets, air-conditioning units, air filters, lawmakers’ seats, security personnel uniforms, as well as deodorising the main chamber and meeting room.
He said the Legislative Council Secretariat may make legal claims if the lawmakers refused to pay.
Chu told reporters that he and Chan did not regret their actions: “We believe it is our obligation as legislators to exercise the right action in order to stop a legislation that violates the basic human rights of Hong Kong people.”
“It is clear the action going to be taken by the Legislative Council Commission is to threaten legislators for their future actions within the chamber or the council itself.”
“But I insist that if we are faced with another unjust legislation or finance committee agenda which violates the rights of Hong Kong people, we as legislators will have no hesitation to take action to fight against it.”
He added the pair will seek legal advice and may challenge the Legislative Council Commission’s decision or the amount fined.
