A pro-government Hong Kong politician who made an obscene gesture at demonstrators will escape punishment, officials announced on Tuesday.
Philip Wong was photographed grinning and raising his middle finger at protestors as he was driven through a pro-democracy rally outside the city’s legislative council building last Wednesday.
He apologised the following day, saying he was inebriated after being served drinks during the debate inside the council building earlier that evening. Wong explained: ”I drank a bit too much … I was quite excited.”
The legislature’s Committee on Members’ Interests debated the issue on Tuesday after receiving a number of complaints about Wong’s behaviour.
Officials advised members, however, that it was not within their power to censure Wong for his gesture as their powers did not cover the behaviour of individual members outside the council building.
The demonstration outside the legislature was one of a number of pro-democracy rallies in Hong Kong in the past two weeks, which have drawn crowds totalling nearly 60 000. – Sapa-DPA