The Democratic Party’s Ted Hui has been charged by the police after he allegedly snatched the phone of an executive officer who was tasked with keeping track of lawmakers’ whereabouts at the legislature.
In April, Hui reportedly took the phone to a men’s bathroom to check what data had been collected after long-complaining that the government was monitoring lawmakers’ activities. The executive officer filed a police report and Hui was arrested in May.
Hui was charged with common assault, accessing a computer with criminal or dishonest intent, and obstructing a public officer from performing official duties. Hui was released on bail and he is set to appear at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts next Tuesday.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Hui maintained that it was not acceptable for the government to send officers to follow lawmakers inside the legislature: “Even though I am criminally charged, we cannot allow the unfair practice to continue,” he wrote.
Appeals board complaint
He also said that he has filed a case with Administrative Appeals Board (AAB) – an independent statutory body – accusing the government of acting illegally. He added that the Democratic Party will support him in the AAB case by paying for the legal fees. The case will be heard next year.
“There is no democratic country or region that will allow the government to send officers to monitor and interfere with the legislature,” he said.
In April, the Democratic Party suspended Hui’s membership following the incident.
