The last-but-one Legislative Council year ended the way it began, with acrimony. For sure, much of the usual business got done, and we legislators can be pleased with that record.
But we may not be so proud of a series of emotive motions meant to arouse public fear for the future and loathing for China - and for ourselves.
The most blatant of these negative motions came in a series of three over consecutive weeks. They were initiated by the chairman and vice-chairmen of the Democratic Party. On paper the motions were, in chronological order, about Chinese intentions towards Hong Kong, the Basic Law and the People's Liberation Army garrison. But in essence they were all aimed at stirring up public disquiet.
Back in October I more or less anticipated what the main contention in Legco would be for the next 10 months when I started the regular proceedings with my appeal to my colleagues for co-operation, consensus, and moderation.
Legco events subsequently proved my hunch sadly correct. These motions were not for cooperation, consensus or moderation but for confrontation, discord and recrimination.
With less than a year left in the transitional period, there are no more secrets left about some people's concern about the future. We have been more preoccupied about what may or may not happen to us than any other people, but most of us just go on trying to make the best of an often difficult situation. We have not paused long enough to reflect on our real condition - stable economic growth, relatively low unemployment, a free yet law abiding society, a dedicated labour force, driven businessmen and a pragmatic society devoted to success.