Hong Kong pan-democrats urge Beijing to release ailing dissident Liu Xiaobo in Legco petition
Twenty-four lawmakers stand to show respect for democracy advocate as document is read out
Twenty-four pan-democratic lawmakers presented a petition in the Legislative Council yesterday urging Beijing to allow critically ill dissident Liu Xiaobo to receive treatment overseas.
But Legco President Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen banned the lawmakers from tabling an adjournment debate on Liu’s case, sparking accusations of abuse of power from democrats.
Submitting the petition, the Democratic Party’s Ted Hui Chi-fung and other democrats voiced their concerns over the Nobel laureate’s situation and urged Beijing to answer the calls from Hong Kong and overseas to release Liu.
“As Mr Liu Xiaobo’s health condition has reached the most critical moment, we urge the central government to act with humanity and arrange as soon as possible for Mr Liu to take treatment overseas with the company of his wife Liu Xia and relatives,” the petition stated.
In 2009, Liu was jailed for 11 years after he led the drafting of Charter 08, a document that called for democracy and freedoms in China. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010.
Under the Legco rules of procedure, members can present a petition but no speech, debate or voting shall be made.
