Hong Kong lawmaker asks whether accused Wong Yuk-man is threatening him in court
Tense exchanges take place as radical legislator cross-examines pro-establishment colleague in trial over a glass thrown at the chief executive
A pro-establishment legislator cross-examined by radical lawmaker Wong Yuk-man – a self-proclaimed pioneer of filibustering – asked a court on Thursday whether it would constitute a threat if Wong told him he would be grilled “slowly”.
Wong Ting-kwong, a lawmaker from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, expressed his concern in Eastern Court when he was probed by Wong Yuk-man, who is on trial for allegedly throwing a glass at Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying in 2014.
The court previously heard that paper stars and scraps of paper were flung at Leung during a question-and-answer session in the Legislative Council on July 3, 2014. A glass landed behind him.
Conducting his own defence on Thursday, Wong Yuk-man asked if the DAB lawmaker – who was present at the time – knew which items were thrown first. “You are trying to nitpick,” the witness replied.
The radical lawmaker, who told the court on Wednesday that he introduced filibustering to Legco, then said he would question the witness at a slow pace.
“Your honour, does it constitute a threat if the defendant said he would ask me questions slowly?” the witness immediately asked magistrate Chu Chung-keung on his second day of cross-examination by Wong. The DAB lawmaker also complained about Wong’s repeated questions.
The magistrate said if a defendant deliberately dragged out the cross-examination to make the witness stay, it would constitute a threat.
However, he said, it was up to him and the prosecutor to decide when to intervene. He did not prevent the radical lawmaker from continuing his questioning.
Wong Yuk-man said he feared he spoke too fast at times.
The 64-year-old lawmaker earlier denied one count of common assault against the chief executive, who gave his testimony last week before the DAB lawmaker.
The courtroom became tense occasionally as it heard both the witness and the accused raise their voices during a string of exchanges.
While Wong Yuk-man said he was not satisfied with the witness’ long answers, Wong Ting-kwong accused his questioner of asking jumbled-up questions.
At one juncture, Wong asked the witness to identity some triangles on a floor plan when they were in fact circles – a mistake pointed out by the witness.
The questioning heated up with Wong Yuk-man raising his voice. “Don’t you dare me,” he said.
“You shouldn’t dare me either,” the witness replied, in an equally loud voice.
The witness, who reported the assault case to the police, denied speaking to any other legislators and acting on others’ instructions.
Wong Ting-kwong will testify for a third day on Friday.
