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Image source,EPA
The protest actions of the three people did not prevent the passage of Hong Kong’s local legislation of the National Anthem Law.
Hong Kong police arrested former pro-democracy members Xu Zhifeng, Chen Zhiquan and Zhu Kaidi on suspicion of “contempt of the Legislative Council.” Police said this was related to two incidents of “pouring smelly water”.
All three revealed via social media that they were detained by the police on Wednesday (November 18). Later, the police confirmed that three men were arrested in response to accidents that occurred at the Hong Kong Legislative Council meeting in May and June this year. They are suspected of “despising the Legislative Council” and “administering poison with the intent to harm, etc.” The two meetings mentioned by the police were related to the judgment of Hong Kong’s local legislation in the Chinese National Anthem Law. The crime of “contempt of the Legislative Council” can be sentenced to a maximum of one year in prison, and the crime of “administering poison with intent to harm, etc.” You can be sentenced to a maximum of three years in prison.
This is the second time the trio have been arrested on suspicion of “contempt of the Legislative Council” this month. In early November, the police prosecuted eight legislators for a dispute at the House Committee meeting of the Legislative Council in early May.
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China last week authorized the SAR government to issue an order to revoke the ratings of four democratic parties, prompting the collective resignation of the pan-democratic parties. Observers questioned whether this was a move by Beijing to accelerate the purge of the opposition from the Hong Kong parliament.
What are the specific reasons for the arrest?
Image source,Getty Images / South China Morning Post
This is the second time that Chen Zhiquan (left), Xu Zhifeng (center) and Zhu Kaidi (right) have been arrested due to a parliamentary dispute this month.
Among the three former congressmen arrested, Xu Zhifeng is a Democrat, Chen Zhiquan is a member of the “Popular Force” of the radical democratic political group, and Zhu Kaidi is not a member of the local faction party.
Hong Kong police reported that the Legislative Council Secretariat denounced the police three times on the morning of May 28 and the morning and afternoon of June 4 this year, stating that someone “turned to the rostrum during the meeting of the Legislative Council held during this period. Or spilling foul-smelling liquid, causing the meeting to be disrupted. ”The case was investigated by the Hong Kong Island Region Public Activities Investigation Team.
The report indicates that, after investigating and consulting with the Justice Department, the police arrested three men on Wednesday, accusing them of violating the “crime of contempt” of the Legislative Council Ordinance (Powers and Privileges) and the Crimes Against Law Ordinance. Person. The crime of using or attempting to use harmful substances with the intention of causing harm, mental damage or anger to others.
The Democratic Party informed Xu Zhifeng’s arrest that: “During the arrest, the police accused Xu Zhifeng of spilling an odorous liquid on the ground during the third reading of the National Anthem Law in the Legislative Council Chamber, alleging that his actions sparked riots. The meeting was interrupted or possibly interrupted, and the Chairman of the Legislative Council, Liang Junyan, was irritable and mentally frustrated. “
Depending on the level of the trial court, once convicted of “contempt of the Legislative Council”, the maximum penalty is one year in prison and a fine of HK $ 10,000 (USD 1,230; RMB 8,444); conviction for the crime of “administering poison with intent to harm, etc.” , You can be sentenced to up to three years in prison.
Prior to this, the Administrative Management Committee of the Legislative Council recovered the clean-up costs of the two incidents of the three. According to Liang Junyan, Chairman of the Legislative Council, the total amount exceeds HK $ 250,000 (US $ 32,200; Yuan 211,000).
Image source,EPA
On May 28, during the “Odor Contamination” incident, a member of the facility was sent to the hospital and firefighters equipped with oxygen cylinders entered the conference room to investigate.
Image source,AFP
The Legislative Council recovered carpet replacement costs from three protesting members.
In the May 28 incident, Xu Zhifeng explained that what was thrown was a “rotten potted plant”, symbolizing “one country, two systems” and the corruption of the legal system. After firefighters investigated, it was found that there were low concentrations of carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide at the site, which were not enough to cause harm to the human body.
In the incident on the morning of June 4, Zhu Kaidi once claimed that what was thrown was “organic fertilizer.” After the investigation, firefighters said no toxic substances were detected. The incident that afternoon the same day involved a bottle of smelly liquid.
In September 2017, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China passed the National Anthem Law, and in November of the same year passed a resolution to add the National Anthem Law to Annex III of the Hong Kong Basic Law and become a national law applicable to Hong Kong. Before the National People’s Congress of China passed and promulgated the “Hong Kong National Security Law” in June this year, the Chinese laws that were added to Annex III will be implemented through local legislation by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. The meetings on May 28 and June 4 coincided with the revision of the Hong Kong National Anthem Ordinance.
Although three pro-democracy members protested, the Legislative Council finally passed the National Anthem Ordinance on the afternoon of June 4.
During the revision of the “National Anthem Law” by the Hong Kong Legislative Council, citizens protested in the streets and were dispersed by the police.
