Pro-Beijing lawmaker Junius Ho has sued three pro-democracy lawmakers for libel after they accused him at a public event of having links to triads.
According to Ho’s writ, submitted to the court on Thursday, lawmakers Dennis Kwok, Lam Cheuk-ting and Claudia Mo shouted “Junius Ho, triad” during a protest at a police demonstration of crowd control equipment – including the water cannon truck – on August 12.
Pan-democrats had been staging a protest at the Police Tactical Unit headquarters in Fanling against the force’s crowd control tactics, when the group got into a heated exchange with Ho. The confrontation was filmed by media and widely circulated online.
The “triad” allegation against Ho referred to a violent mob attack against civilians in Yuen Long on July 21 which left over 40 injured. At least eleven have been arrested in connection with the incident, some of whom have gang links. On the night of the incident, Ho was filmed shaking hands with and praising several men in white – the colour worn by the assailants – outside the MTR station.
Ho’s writ said the remarks were groundless and false. He demanded compensation from the three lawmakers and an order to ban them from making the remarks again.
However, Ho did not sue lawmakers Leung Yiu-chung or Au Nok-hin, who had also accused him of cosying up to triads.
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