Last night came word that they are considering withdrawing their resignations, effective tomorrow, and resubmitting them next week so they can try once more to speak - barring further action by pro-establishment rivals.

"If they change their minds, as far as I can see there's no rule against that," said Legco president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing of the resignation tactic.

But Tsang also said that while he does not approve of walkouts it too is a lawful tactic.

The walkout amid shouts of shame yesterday left the 60-strong chamber without a quorum, forcing Tsang to adjourn proceedings until Wednesday.

The five - Raymond Wong Yuk-man, Albert Chan Wai-yip and Leung Kwok- hung of the League of Social Democrats and Alan Leong Kah-kit and Tanya Chan Suk-chong from the Civic Party - quit on Tuesday to force by-elections to serve as a referendum on the slow pace of political reform.

The drama began about 1pm when Tsang said Wong could speak. But Chan Kam-lam of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong interrupted, saying the speeches should have been submitted to legislators beforehand.

DAB chairman Tam Yiu-chung then said his members were walking out in protest at the resignations. On his way out, Wong Kwok-hing, a member of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, shouted it is "shameful" to waste taxpayers' money on by- elections.

"Long Hair" Leung of the league, renowned for his own messy departures from the legislature, yelled back: "After condemning me so many times for disrupting the meetings, they are now doing it themselves. Shame on them."

More condemnations followed. Civic Party chief Audrey Eu Yuet-mee said the walkout shows the pro- establishment camp is afraid of the will of the people. Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan described the action as "an insult," and House Committee chairwoman Miriam Lau Kin- yee of the Liberal Party thought it "unfortunate" and "emotional."

Cyd Ho Sau-lan of Civic Act-up said the requirement that half of the chamber is needed for a quorum makes it impossible for the minority to speak.

Away from the legislature, Chinese University of Hong Kong political scientist Ivan Choy Chi-keung said the pro-establishment group acted with dishonor and the resigning lawmakers will gain public sympathy.

In the speech he could not deliver, Raymond Wong intended to describe Hong Kong as "the best place to conduct a democratic election on China soil so as to ensure the public can exercise their democratic rights."