LegCo head recalls challenging year marked by protest violence

Legislative Council President Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen said 2019 had been a challenging year and he was saddened by the extensive damage to the legislature's building during violent protests against the now-withdrawn extradition bill.

The remarks came in an annual report of the LegCo Commission, reported by several local media on Thursday.

A source familiar with the issue told China Daily the report will be tabled before lawmakers when LegCo reconvenes on Wednesday.

In the annual report, Leung said the destruction of the council's premises by radical protesters forced the legislature to enter into summer recess - some two weeks ahead of schedule. The cost of repairing all the damage amounted to HK$40 million ($5.1 million).

During these acts of violence, radical protesters smashed more than 60 glass panels which had to be replaced. They also defaced numerous items of historic value and destroyed surveillance cameras and security devices.

The storming of the Legislative Council Complex, most notoriously on July 1, was part of wider street violence plaguing the city since June, which saw aggressive protesters clad in black smash shops and public facilities, throw gasoline bombs, and charge police lines.

Leung said it was fortunate that no staff member of the LegCo Secretariat was injured in the incident. He added that special consultants were hired to review security facilities in its building.

Lawmaker Wong Ting-kwong said that the LegCo Commission had given priority to restoring the premises and facilities used for holding meetings after the severe vandalism so the council can resume its functions when it reopened in October, including deliberating bills on livelihood issues submitted by the government that have been put on hold during the longer-than-usual break.

However, it is disappointing that despite efforts to restore the building's facilities, the legislature has not been able to function effectively because of filibustering by the opposition camp. These obstacles have prevented the commission from performing its duties in recent months, he said.

Agreeing with Wong, former legislator Ip Kwok-him said many meetings have been suspended or canceled.

"To be honest, the council has been thrown into a state of semi-paralysis," he said.

Ip, who is also an unofficial member of the Executive Council, said such violent acts had shown no respect for the rule of law and even to democracy.

"The legislature is not just mandated to enact and amend laws of the city. It is also a symbol of democracy. When the rioters attacked the LegCo offices, they were smashing democracy," Ip explained.