Former Hong Kong opposition lawmakers jailed for causing Legco ruckus
Pair punished for roles in 2019 incident which aimed to stall proceedings of a committee scrutinising contentious extradition bill
Two former Hong Kong opposition lawmakers have been jailed for up to 16 days for their roles in causing a ruckus during a 2019 Legislative Council meeting on a contentious extradition bill which the administration later scrapped amid citywide protests.
Ex-legislator Eddie Chu Hoi-dick was sentenced to 14 days in jail for his role in the incident, while his former colleague Raymond Chan Chi-chuen was given 16 days’ imprisonment.
The pair were involved in the 2019 incident, in which lawmakers hoped to stall proceedings of a committee scrutinising the extradition bill.
According to court documents, the incident resulted in pro-establishment lawmakers Ben Chan Han-pan and Elizabeth Quat reporting that they have been injured. Quat sought treatment from a Chinese medicine doctor for her injuries.
At West Kowloon Court, Chu pleaded guilty to four counts of assaulting, obstructing or molesting a member within the precincts of the Legco chamber. Chan pleaded guilty to two counts of the same charge.
Former opposition lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting also stood trial for the incident on Tuesday, but pleaded not guilty. His case has been scheduled to be heard in September.