Hong Kong lawmakers move to impeach leader

Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers made an unprecedented attempt Wednesday to impeach the city's embattled China-backed leader, accusing him of breaking property laws and calling on him to quit. The 27 pro-democracy lawmakers who signed the city's first impeachment motion accused Leung Chun-ying of lying, dereliction of duty and serious breaches of the law in a row that stems from illegal structures at his luxury home. The move -- which is unlikely to succeed -- follows a protest on New Year's Day in which tens of thousands took to the streets to urge Leung to quit and to press for greater democracy. The former British colony, which was returned to Chinese rule in 1997, maintains a semi-autonomous status but does not choose its leader through popular vote. Leung took office in July after he was picked by a 1,200-strong election committee dominated by pro-Beijing elites. China has said the chief executive could be directly elected in 2017 at the earliest, with the legislature following by 2020. Illegal structures are a sensitive issue in the space-starved city of seven million. Wearing a T-shirt with the words "We topple a tyrant", maverick lawmaker "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung presented the impeachment motion to the legislature, accusing the new leader of lying about the structures during campaigning. "He has used dishonest ways to win the election," he said. "This is the first time we have a motion in the legislature to impeach a cheating chief executive... he has cheated his way to power," Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau told reporters outside the chamber. Analysts say the motion is unlikely to be passed as the 70-member legislature is dominated by pro-Beijing legislators. The pro-democracy camp controls 27 seats. Rival protesters traded barbs outside the legislature, and security personnel had to step in at one point when an angry pro-government supporter charged towards the rival group, TV footage showed. Leung's popularity ratings have fallen and he has faced a no-confidence vote in the legislature since the controversy, with discontent over issues including sky-high property prices and anti-Beijing sentiment remaining high.