Police investigating incident at Legislative Council: Hong Kong

Police investigated a very smelly incident which took place on Thursday at Hong Kong's Legislative Council.

During a debate on the controversial national anthem law, Democratic Party lawmaker Ted Hui made a dash towards the President's desk.

Security guards grabbed him, but he managed to drop a bag that he was carrying, and kicked it towards the desk.

A plastic bottle fell out and a substance that looked like mud was scattered on the floor, the package emitted a smell.

Hui called it a "rotten plant" that he intended as symbolic of what he said is the decay of Hong Kong's rule of law, and way of life.

Speaking a few hours later, Police Deputy District Commander Liauw Ka Kei said they have yet to confirm exactly what the substance was, but feared it could have been harmful, so they cleared everyone out of the chamber.

The national anthem law would make it an offence to disrespect the Chinese national anthem, punishable with a fine of up to 50,000 Hong Kong dollars (approximately 4,600 US dollars) and up to three years in prison.

The Hong Kong authorities and pro-establishment legislators have been struggling to push this law through the legislature, while pro-democracy legislators who are in the minority, have been trying to use any method to slow it down.

Ted Hui's move caused the debate to be suspended for several hours, before it resumed at 4pm Thursday (0800GMT)

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