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In Hong Kong, MPs come to blows: at least four people were injured, including a deputy who was transported to the hospital, this Saturday, May 11. The object of the fight is the chairmanship of a legislative council committee. Opposition and government have clashed for weeks on a bill that would allow extradition of suspects to mainland China. This Saturday, the tension is up a notch.
Swearwords, deputies who jump on the tables and beatings. Appraisal: an arm in a sling, discomfort and the evacuation of MP pro democracy Gary Fan on a stretcher.
It was a meeting of the committee responsible for examining the draft law on extradition that triggered the hostilities. Until this week, a pro-democracy MP headed this commission, but he was removed from office to be replaced by a member of the House in favor of the government's bill.
A law that is intended to allow the extradition of suspects to Taiwan, Macao and mainland China, on a case by case basis, specify the authorities. To defend the text, they rely in particular on a judicial case in progress. Taiwan is demanding the extradition of a 19-year-old Hong Kong boy accused of murdering his girlfriend during a vacation on the island.
But the project is widely opposed. Even the conservative business community has spoken out against a law they consider to be draconian. The opposition, she says, that this law championed by pro-Beijing governor Carrie Lam would extradite pro-democracy militants to mainland China.
The protest brought together nearly 22,000 people in the streets at the end of April, it is the biggest popular mobilization since the umbrella movement in 2014.
► Also read: Hong Kong umbrella revolt: nine defendants convicted