Chaos in Hong Kong as state of the union address disrupted
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Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam was forced to suspended her annual policy address after being heckled in the city’s parliament.
Opposition lawmakers disrupted the session by shouting and jeering from the beginning of her speech.
After a first interruption, the session briefly resumed to only be interrupted again. It was then adjourned a second time.
The words ‘Five demands, not one less’ are projected by pro-democracy lawmakers onto the wall behind Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam (2-R) as she arrives to deliver her annual policy address at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, China, 16 October 2019. Carrie Lam’s address was interrupted twice by loud protesters demanding her to step down. EPA-EFE/MIGUEL CANDELA
Later, in a statement, the Chief Executive’s Office says: “Owing to the current circumstances, the chief executive, Carrie Lam, was not able to deliver the entire policy address at the Legislative Council today.
“To allow members of the public to know in full the various initiatives in it, she will deliver the policy address to members of the public through video at about 12.15pm today.
“Members of the public can view the broadcast on TV and the policy address website.”
Diplomats from the European Union, Germany and Sweden, among others, are in attendance.
Hong Kong has experienced months of anti-government protests.
Parliament had resumed on Wednesday for the first time since it was stormed by protesters in July.
The assembly was expected to officially withdraw the controversial extradition bill that sparked the protests.
