Reading the shadowy writing on the wall
This is Jonathan Braude's last appearance in the Legislative Council Gallery. He has enjoyed lampooning legislators and occasionally taking them seriously.
A room in a private flat, decorated with traditional Chinese paintings and calligraphy. Voice off (in Shanghainese): 'Now, I'm glad you asked me that, Betty. No, I don't think it's wise. Not at all. But that Christine Loh won't leave well alone.
'Always bringing up taboo subjects in Legco, she is. If it's not the Communist Party [may its works be famed for eternity, but its operations be secret forever], then it's Taiwan.
'No good will come of it, Betty, my dear. You mark my words.' On the wall, we see the shadow of a short, stubby finger wagging portentously.
Cut to: Legco Chamber. Flashback. Camera on Ms Loh as she questions Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Michael Suen: Would the Government inform legislators of its policy on visits to Taiwan by SAR officials and vice versa, she asks. Would it describe the channels for discussing visas, emergency assistance for Hong Kong people travelling in Taiwan and other matters of mutual interest? Just how much contact has there actually been? Cut to Mr Suen. The mandarin responds carefully: 'In his speech at the opening of the 5th plenary meeting of the Preliminary Working Committee of the Preparatory Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region [HKSAR] in June 1995,' he says, 'Vice-Premier Qian Qichen set out seven fundamental principles and policies affirmed by the Central People's Government for handling Hong Kong matters involving Taiwan after '1997'. This forms the basis on which the HKSAR Government handles Taiwan-related issues.' But, basically, the idea is that Hong Kong officials can make private visits to Taiwan without restriction, but need approval for work visits. Taiwanese officials get visas on a case-by-case basis.
As for the contacts, it's all done through the Chief Executive's Special Adviser Paul Yip, although civil aviation, postage and other 'operational matters' carry on as they did before 'reunification'.
(We do not use the word 'handover', on this occasion. And we put 1997 in inverted commas).
Frankly, Mr Yip has not been making much contact.
Helping tourists in emergencies? Mr Suen manages a smile. There are plenty of flights to Taiwan. Family members and friends can help out.
And, no, he tells Lau Chin-shek, the Government has not considered opening an office in Taipei to help those people with no friends and relatives.
The Secretary fends off other questions with references to the Seven Principles which, if legislators had but read them, make clear Beijing has the last word on visas to visit Hong Kong.
Andrew Wong and Albert Ho keep trying with the idea of an unofficial office, like the de facto Taiwan office in Hong Kong. Suddenly, Mr Suen stops parrying their questions and agrees to give the matter consideration.
Flashback ends. Cut to private flat as before. There is a sharp intake of breath, the shadow of the finger wags chubbily on the wall and the voice continues in Shanghainese: 'No good will come of it, Betty. No good at all.'
