Police called in to escort lawmaker to taxi after he was prevented from leaving for over an hour
ELIZABETH CHEUNGelizabeth.cheung@scmp.com
PUBLISHED : Sunday, 06 December, 2015, 3:00am
UPDATED : Sunday, 06 December, 2015, 12:06pm
Chaos breaks out at the forum in Mong Kok. Photo: Edward Wong
A gathering against the Copyright Amendment Bill descended into chaos when a radical pan-democrat lawmaker was prevented from leaving the venue for more than an hour.
Lawmaker "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung faced more than 40 people who were dissatisfied with his behaviour at a press conference called by Keyboard Frontline, a group seeking to protect internet freedom, in Mong Kok. More than 10 people from different groups were invited to present their opinions on why they opposed the controversial bill, which was dubbed "the internet Article 23" after the article in the Basic Law on national security legislation.
The second reading and debate on the copyright bill, which regulates online parodies, will resume in the Legislative Council on Wednesday.
Alvin Cheng Kam-mun, a social activist who rose to fame during the Occupy movement last year, asked why only pan-democrat lawmaker Wong Yuk-man, who has put forward 903 amendments to the bill, was mounting a filibuster.
Leung disagreed with Cheng's words and grabbed the microphone while he was speaking. A few people were unhappy with Leung and started to quarrel with him. People later asked Leung to state clearly whether he would filibuster the bill.
Leung earlier stated in the press conference that he would. "People asked if I'm going to filibuster. I asked them in return 'would you eat'?... I would definitely filibuster," he said.
The chaos lasted more than an hour. Some 20 police officers were called to Sai Yeung Choi Street South, where the gathering was held, and escorted Leung to a taxi in Soy Street.
The groups are calling for the bill to be scrapped because they fear it will threaten freedom of speech and creation.
"We are worried there are still loopholes in the exemptions contained in the bill, even though the government agreed not to charge people who change songs or use others' photos. We might not use these ways to express our thoughts to the government [if the bill is passed]," said Luk Kwun-yu, spokesperson for Keyboard Frontline.
Opponents will gather outside the Legislative Council building on Wednesday to protest against the bill.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1887381/angry-opponents-hong-kong-copyright-bill-block-lawmaker
