Hong Kong lawmakers clash as pro-Beijing camp elects chair

Clashes broke out in Hong Kong’s legislature Monday for a second time this month as a pro-Beijing lawmaker was elected as chair of a key committee that scrutinizes bills, ending a prolonged struggle for control with pro-democracy camp.

legislature’s House Committee, which vets bills and decides when to present m for a final vote, had been without a chairperson for more than six months. central government in Beijing criticized deputy chairperson and pro-democracy lawmaker Dennis Kwok for deliberately delaying matters and causing a backlog of bills that affect public interest.

Kwok was replaced Friday by Chan Kin-por, who was appointed by legislature’s president to preside over Monday’s election. After scuffles and shouting matches, leading to Chan ejecting most of pro-democracy lawmakers, election took place with pro-Beijing lawmaker Starry Lee winning easily.

Her election will likely speed up passing of a controversial bill that would criminalize abuse of Chinese national anm. Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam said last week that passing bill was a priority for government, and bill will be presented to committee on May 27.

At Monday’s meeting, pro-democracy lawmakers held up placards that read “Abuse of Power” and “CCP tramples HK legislature,” referring to China's ruling Communist Party. Within minutes, at least five lawmakers were ejected for disorderly behavior, with at least one lying injured on ground as meeting was briefly suspended.

“Hong Kong is marching towards beginning of end of ‘one country, two systems’,” said pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo after meeting ended.  former British colony was returned to China in 1997 under a one country, two systems framework that gives Hong Kong its own legal system and greater rights than in mainland.

Mo urged Hong Kong people to vote out those who “don’t care about Hong Kong’s future” in legislative elections in September. Pro-democracy lawmaker Tanya Chan accused security guards of Hong Kong’s legislature of “losing ir impartiality,” after security guards surrounded bench where chairperson was seated and prevented pro-democracy lawmakers from getting close.

Lawmakers clashed over same issue on May 8, when Lee occupied chairperson’s seat more than an hour before meeting was scheduled to start, saying that external legal counsel had advised that she had power to preside over House Committee meetings. Pro-democracy lawmakers accused her of abusing her power and std a walkout, leaving Lee and pro-Beijing camp to clear several bills.