Hong Kong's CY Leung warns of 'anarchy' in policy speech

Hong Kong's leader CY Leung has said the need for economic growth outweighs calls for greater democracy, in his first annual policy address since last year's pro-democracy protests.

Mr Leung said Hong Kong would "degenerate into anarchy" if it gave in to demands for universal suffrage.

The speech was delayed as several pro-democracy MPs staged a noisy protest in the chamber calling for him to resign.

Hong Kong's pro-democracy street protests came to an end in December.

The protesters had been on the streets since late September. They were demanding that the 2017 elections - Hong Kong's first public vote for the leadership - should be held without interference from Beijing.

China's government has said that while there will be a free vote, there should only be two to three candidates, chosen by a pro-Beijing committee.

CY Leung delivers speech in Hong Kong parliament (14 Jan 2015)
CY Leung faced multiple calls from protesters to resign - but stood firm
The protesters wanted Mr Leung - who was himself elected by a committee of 1,200 people - to resign, but he refused.

And while tens of thousands of people took part in the initial demonstrations which paralysed parts of central Hong Kong, numbers had fallen to a few hundred - mostly students - by the time police and bailiffs dismantled the last camps in mid-December.

MPs removed
In his opening remarks of his speech, which was also posted online, Mr Leung said Hong Kong had to make a choice between "implementing universal suffrage and a standstill" in the economy.

Pan-democracy MPS carry yellow umbrellas and banners in parliament in Hong Kong (15 Jan 2015)
Pro-democracy MPs walked through the chamber carrying yellow umbrellas, the symbol of the protest movement
While he recognised the aspirations of the student protesters, he said they did not fully understand Hong Kong's laws, and that the territory had never been promised total political autonomy.

The reforms to take place in 2017 were "a big step forward for Hong Kong's democratic development", he said.

"As we pursue democracy, we should act in accordance with the law, or Hong Kong will degenerate into anarchy," he warned.

He also promised to generate more affordable housing in Hong Kong - a major issue in the wealthy but small territory - by announcing a new subsidised housing scheme.

Apartment buildings in Hong Kong (Feb 2014)

The lack of affordable housing in Hong Kong has become a huge issue, particularly for young people
The BBC's John Sudworth in Shanghai says that Mr Leung's argument that the 2017 reforms are as big a democratic development as Hong Kong is going to get have failed to convince his opponents so far, and are unlikely to do so now.

The divisions remain deep in Hong Kong, our correspondent adds, and this speech may do little to lift Mr Leung's low popularity rating.

Mr Leung's speech was delayed by several minutes after members of the pan-democratic bloc walked through parliament waving yellow umbrellas - a symbol of the protest movement - and banners calling for universal suffrage and for Mr Leung to resign.

Pro-democracy MPs Raymond Chan and Albert Chan were removed from the chamber by security guards, while other MPs walked out, leaving empty seats.

MP Albert Ho said Mr Leung was "simply acting as a messenger for the Beijing government and Beijing authority".

"I don't have any expectation of CY Leung to do anything, even speaking for the interest of Hong Kong people," he told reporters, saying the people instead had to "speak directly to Beijing in clear and unequivocal terms" about their democratic aspirations.