Hong Kong: Pro-Democracy Lawmakers Unfurl Yellow Umbrellas in Council Boycott

Pro-democracy legislators left a debate on democratic reforms in Hong Kong to protest the government’s intention to stick with an unpopular plan.

Pro-democracy lawmakers carrying yellow umbrellas—the symbol of the pro-democracy movement—walk out of the legislative chamber as the consultation document is about to be presented in Hong Kong on Jan. 7, 2015. Aaron Tam/AFP/Getty Images

HONG KONG—Pro-democracy legislators walked out of the much-awaited start of a debate on democratic reforms in Hong Kong on Wednesday to protest the government’s intention to stick with a plan to screen all candidates in an election of the city’s top executive in 2017, an issue that sparked massive recent street protests.

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, the city’s No. 2 official, opened the consultation with a speech in the territory’s Legislative Council. 24 lawmakers aligned with the pro-democracy movement calling for free elections immediately raised yellow umbrellas — symbols of the street protests — and walked out.

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