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HONG KONG: Pro-Beijing legislators forced the adjournment of parliament in Hong Kong on Wednesday. This came after five pan-democrats, who resigned on Tuesday, prepared to speak about their decision.
The lawmakers who quit said they are hoping to trigger a by-election to serve as a referendum on universal suffrage in the territory.
It was the turn of the pro-Beijing camp to have its voice heard. Dozens of supporters for the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) staged a protest outside the Legislative Council or parliament building condemning Tuesday's resignations by the five pan-democrats.
Tam Yiu Chung, chairman, DAB Party, said: "Five members have tendered resignations to conduct a so-called referendum on universal suffrage and they're using the legislative council as a form of publicity. We are strongly against this and we're leaving in protest."
Among those who walked out of the chamber were members from the Federation of Trade Unions. The pro-business Liberal Party stayed behind.
The DAB also plans to boycott the polls in an attempt to deprive the pan-democrats of any claim to a referendum.
This is the second time in a month that protestors have laid siege to the Legislative Council Building. Previously, they were in opposition to a high-speed rail link to mainland China which they said was too expensive for the city.
The introduction of direct elections is a sensitive issue in Hong Kong. Beijing has issued a statement calling the by-election a blatant challenge to its authority and going against Hong Kong's Basic Law or mini-constitution.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang said the government "deeply regrets" the resignations and will not recognise the by-elections as a referendum.
Ivan Choy, political analyst, Chinese University of Hong Kong, said: "In Hong Kong, we do not have any legal foundations for using referendums to push some public policies. And so we can say that it is a political campaign, rather than we have some legal foundation or some legal implications on this issue. "
The five legislators will be given an opportunity to speak again next Wednesday before their resignations are formally gazetted on Friday, triggering a by-election. - CNA/vm
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