Szeto rewarded for fighting spirit
Veteran democracy activist Szeto Wah, who is battling late-stage lung cancer, received two awards yesterday for his efforts to bring democratic reforms to China.
The first of the awards, presented by RTHK in a programme looking back at political events of the past year, was awarded for a vigil held to remember the crackdown on Tiananmen Square protesters in 1989.
Szeto, as chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, received the award on behalf of the organisers.
'Some say that I receive this award on behalf of the people who attended the vigil that night. This is not quite right,' he said. 'This award should go to all Hong Kong people, because there were many who could not go to the park that night. I believe ... most of the Hong Kong public were also there in spirit.'
Organisers estimated that 150,000 attended the 20th-anniversary vigil.
Szeto also received an award for being the 'longest-lasting fighter', again for his work with the alliance.
There were other awards for more humorous political events last year. The award for 'the dialogue you couldn't believe just took place' went to Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen. When he announced the political reform consultation exercise in November, he was asked by lawmaker Cyd Ho Sau-lan whether the government was deliberately trying to maintain a system that worsened the wealth gap. To everyone's surprise, Tang replied: 'Yes.'
Emily Lau Wai-hing won the prize for doing the most difficult job - as chairwoman of the Legislative Council's Finance Committee during the stormy debate over the HK$66.9 billion express rail link.
The award for quickest 'kiss-and-make-up' went to Wong Yuk-man. Before resigning as a lawmaker for the League of Social Democrats he traded insults in a row with Chim Pui-chung. But he quickly apologised and the two men shook hands.
The programme will be broadcast on Thursday.
