3 Hong Kong lawmakers ejected from legislature
Belligerent audience: League of Social Democrats lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung (L) protesting against Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang (R) at the Legislative Council chamber in Hong Kong, China yesterday, before Tsang began his policy address. Picture:EPA
Thursday, October 16, 2008
THREE lawmakers were kicked out of the city's legislature yesterday, as they confronted and hurled bananas at Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang during his annual policy address.
The three members of the League of Social Democrats were removed by security guards after they shouted abuse at Tsang during his annual policy address.
First to go was well-known activist "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung who stood just inches from Tsang and demanded to know if he was a member of the Chinese Communist Party.
He also accused Tsang of letting down the poorest members of society.
Later, the two other members of the party in the legislature were also removed by guards after questioning Tsang's commitment to the poor.
Tsang said yesterday the government would introduce a minimum wage to protect low income workers in the territory.
Tsang said in his annual policy address that results of a voluntary scheme introduced two years ago to encourage employers to raise wages for cleaners and security guards had failed.
"I unequivocally pledged to introduce legislation on statutory minimum wage for cleaning workers and security guards should the (scheme have) failed," he told legislators.
"To honour this pledge, the government will now proceed with the legislative work."
Tsang said he shared the views of some members of the business community and the labour sector that employees in all trades and industries should be covered.
"Cleaning workers and security guards are not the only low income jobs. And worker mobility among different types of income job does exist," he said.
"Moreover, it's quite difficult to define cleaning worker, and any definition is bound to be controversial.
"Therefore the government is inclined to go for an across-the-board statutory minimum wage," he said.
A bill will be introduced to the legislature during the 2008-09 session, he said.
Agencies
The three members of the League of Social Democrats were removed by security guards after they shouted abuse at Tsang during his annual policy address.
First to go was well-known activist "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung who stood just inches from Tsang and demanded to know if he was a member of the Chinese Communist Party.
He also accused Tsang of letting down the poorest members of society.
Later, the two other members of the party in the legislature were also removed by guards after questioning Tsang's commitment to the poor.
Tsang said yesterday the government would introduce a minimum wage to protect low income workers in the territory.
Tsang said in his annual policy address that results of a voluntary scheme introduced two years ago to encourage employers to raise wages for cleaners and security guards had failed.
"I unequivocally pledged to introduce legislation on statutory minimum wage for cleaning workers and security guards should the (scheme have) failed," he told legislators.
"To honour this pledge, the government will now proceed with the legislative work."
Tsang said he shared the views of some members of the business community and the labour sector that employees in all trades and industries should be covered.
"Cleaning workers and security guards are not the only low income jobs. And worker mobility among different types of income job does exist," he said.
"Moreover, it's quite difficult to define cleaning worker, and any definition is bound to be controversial.
"Therefore the government is inclined to go for an across-the-board statutory minimum wage," he said.
A bill will be introduced to the legislature during the 2008-09 session, he said.
Agencies
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