Party Wants Lawmaker to Explain Obscene Sign
You have to like a guy who is pro democracy, wears black t-shirts and refuses to conform.
Party Wants Lawmaker to Explain Obscene Sign
Party Wants Lawmaker to Explain Obscene Sign
Oct 8, 7:44 am ET
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's main pro-Beijing party has demanded newly elected lawmaker and radical activist "Longhair" explain showing his middle finger in the legislature house just hours after he was sworn into office this week.
"This sort of behavior from a lawmaker is unacceptable and he needs to account for it," said Ip Kwok-him, deputy chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, which has the largest bloc of seats in the legislature.
Leung Kwok-hung, who shouted pro-democracy slogans before and after he read his oath of office, found himself in trouble at a news conference Wednesday when he made the middle finger salute while referring to another legislator, Philip Wong.
The pro-Beijing Wong flashed his middle finger at demonstrators during a protest against a planned law banning subversive activities against mainland China last year and quickly drew public anger.
Recalling the incident, Leung made the gesture himself to show what Wong did and demanded Wong apologize.
Ip insisted that Leung's action was unacceptable.
"Even if he says he was just trying to show what Philip Wong did, that is unacceptable," Ip told Reuters. His party will demand that Leung explain his behavior in a legislative sub-committee meeting next week.
Leung, already embroiled in a battle to wear T-shirts to legislative meetings, was defiant.
"I tell you, they are mad. I was just showing reporters what Wong did, their complaint is irrelevant," Leung told Reuters.
"I am now challenging them to a public debate on whether I should apologize. If I lose, I will apologize."
Leung wore a black T-shirt printed with pro-democracy slogans and the image of Che Guevara for his swearing-in and has vowed to dress similarly in future legislative sessions.
Some of his more strait-laced colleagues have said such attire was not appropriate and the president of the legislature has called for all members to discuss the matter.
Party Wants Lawmaker to Explain Obscene Sign
Party Wants Lawmaker to Explain Obscene Sign
Oct 8, 7:44 am ET
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's main pro-Beijing party has demanded newly elected lawmaker and radical activist "Longhair" explain showing his middle finger in the legislature house just hours after he was sworn into office this week.
"This sort of behavior from a lawmaker is unacceptable and he needs to account for it," said Ip Kwok-him, deputy chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, which has the largest bloc of seats in the legislature.
Leung Kwok-hung, who shouted pro-democracy slogans before and after he read his oath of office, found himself in trouble at a news conference Wednesday when he made the middle finger salute while referring to another legislator, Philip Wong.
The pro-Beijing Wong flashed his middle finger at demonstrators during a protest against a planned law banning subversive activities against mainland China last year and quickly drew public anger.
Recalling the incident, Leung made the gesture himself to show what Wong did and demanded Wong apologize.
Ip insisted that Leung's action was unacceptable.
"Even if he says he was just trying to show what Philip Wong did, that is unacceptable," Ip told Reuters. His party will demand that Leung explain his behavior in a legislative sub-committee meeting next week.
Leung, already embroiled in a battle to wear T-shirts to legislative meetings, was defiant.
"I tell you, they are mad. I was just showing reporters what Wong did, their complaint is irrelevant," Leung told Reuters.
"I am now challenging them to a public debate on whether I should apologize. If I lose, I will apologize."
Leung wore a black T-shirt printed with pro-democracy slogans and the image of Che Guevara for his swearing-in and has vowed to dress similarly in future legislative sessions.
Some of his more strait-laced colleagues have said such attire was not appropriate and the president of the legislature has called for all members to discuss the matter.
posted by Brian | 10:43 AM
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