Honour for Philip Wong stirs anger
Controversial pro-government legislator Philip Wong Yu-hong has been presented with one of Hong Kong's highest awards by Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, provoking criticism that the government is continuing to disregard public opinion.
Mr Wong, who provoked a public outcry when he gestured with his raised middle finger to the crowd outside the Legislative Council building during a demonstration on July 9, was one of 20 people awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS) at this year's Honours and Awards presentation ceremony.
The gold star is the second highest award after the Grand Bauhinia. Mr Wong was honoured for his work liaising between the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong government.
Mr Wong's gesture, during a July 9 protest outside the Legco building, was seen as vulgar and was the subject of nearly 700 complaints to Legco and the Broadcasting Authority.
After yesterday's ceremony, lawmaker Andrew Cheng Kar-foo of the Democratic Party said the government had not felt the pulse of public sentiment.
'Philip Wong has apologised for his action, meaning he [knew he did] something wrong. But this award is like an expression of praise. Why can't the government honour him later?' Mr Cheng said.
He said that while the honours list had been announced before Dr Wong made the gesture, the decision could have been altered.
'If I were one of the recipients, I would feel very ashamed that I was receiving the same level of honour as Dr Wong,' he said. 'Philip should have rejected the offer.'
Frontier party legislator Cyd Ho Sau-lan, a member of Legco's committee on members' interests, said the government's insistence on honouring Dr Wong proved public opinion had never been considered.
'There are many people who have made contributions to our society. The government has many alternatives,' Ms Ho said.
Andy Ho On-tat, a political commentator and public relations expert, said the government's action would only lower the value of the award.
'Since [pro-Beijing unionist] Yeung Kwong was given the medal [two years ago], these awards have lost their value,' he said. 'The public [may feel] these recipients do not deserve a high level of respect. The medals are political rewards given to pro-government people.'
When the Sunday Morning Post contacted Dr Wong, he said: 'I am not interested in newspapers, sorry,' and hung up.
A government spokeswoman said: 'The overall assessment was based on his long-term contribution.'
Dr Wong escaped punishment by Legco for his gesture. The Legco committee on members' interests, which took up the incident at the request of Democratic Party chairman Yeung Sum, concluded it did not have the jurisdiction to judge a member's conduct.
Apart from Dr Wong, other recipients included Police Commissioner Tsang Yam-pui, Lingnan University president Edward Chen Kwan-yiu, tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun, Airport Authority chairman Victor Fung Kwok-king, and American Chamber of Commerce chairman James Thompson. Six medical workers who died from Sars were honoured posthumously for bravery.
