EJ Insight » Hong Kong
Did he or didn’t he — see it, that is.
A judge is deciding that question which could leave a Hong Kong lawmaker with an assault conviction in a case in which a key witness is a fellow legislator, the Hong Kong Economic Journal reports.
Opposition lawmaker Raymond Wong is on trial in Eastern Court stemming from an incident in which he allegedly threw a glass of water at Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying during a question-and answer-session in the Legislative Council.
A key witness is pro-estalishment legislator Wong Ting-kwong.
In his defense, Raymond Wong challenged Wong Ting-kwong’s version of events, saying the latter could not have seen what happened because he is always asleep.
The defendant produced 18 photographs showing the witness in different stages of slumber.
Wong Ting-kwong said falling asleep when one is tired is only human but stood by his testimony.
He said he only pretended to be asleep to protest filibustering by opposition lawmakers.
Raymond Wong said Wong Ting-kwong might have decided to testify against him out of personal hatred and because the latter is a close Leung ally, the court heard.
The defendant said Wong Ting-kwong and some of his Legco colleagues have been sleeping off proceedings since he started the practice of filibustering government proposals.
Wong Ting-kwong backed Leung in the 2012 chief executive election.
But he said he won’t exaggerate something he has not seen or heard just to please Leung.
The hearing continues.
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