Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam was forced to suspend her annual address after being heckled in the city's parliament.

Opposition lawmakers disrupted the session from the start by shouting and projecting slogans.

After a first interruption, the session resumed only to be interrupted again. It was then suspended, with the address delivered by pre-recorded video.

The suspension means the extradition bill - which sparked months of protests - was unable to be withdrawn formally.

Hong Kong has experienced months of protests since the extradition bill was introduced in April.

The Legislative Council (Legco) resumed on Wednesday for the first time since it was stormed by protesters in July.

Now the withdrawal of the bill will only be possible once Legco resumes.

The bill was suspended in July - but the move failed to quell protests in the city.

On Wednesday, as the city's chief executive was about to begin her speech, opposition lawmakers projected the slogan "Five demands - not one less" on the wall behind her.

Since the protests began in June, they have widened from rallies against the extradition bill to five key demands - including universal suffrage.

Source: bbc.com

BDST: 1211 HRS, OCT 16, 2019
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