Living proof of why it's time for change
Not all of you will have heard of Abraham Razack. But try to remember him. He is a perfect example of why we need to cleanse the rot from our political system. He is one of those who best exemplify that rot. He proved that once again last week. Razack is a legislator who got 'elected' through the despised functional constituency system. It is despised by the majority of Hongkongers because it only allows a tiny minority of privileged people to vote. Razack represents the real estate constituency in Legco. He makes no bones about advancing the interests of property tycoons even if that hurts the majority of Hong Kong people. Last week, legislators from all political parties joined in a rare show of unity to support a non-binding motion demanding tougher rules against the unscrupulous practices of property developers. But Razack scoffed at the motion. He alone voted to support the tycoons rather than the people who are being squeezed by them. He used the rot in the system to give the people the finger. But Public Eye would still like to thank Razack. We would like to thank him for reminding us all why the majority of people so despise the functional constituency system. He reminded us it is a system created to advance the interests of the privileged at the expense of the common people.
From public payroll to developers' mouthpiece
Public Eye would like to note that before Abraham Razack moved on to represent the property developers in Legco he headed the Land Development Corporation, now renamed the Urban Renewal Authority, which has close ties to our developers. You might want to ask yourself whether it is morally right for someone who was paid by the public to represent the people's interests in joint urban renewal projects with developers to then switch sides and represent the developers in Legco.
Government pollster still playing catch-up
Remember Professor Lau Siu-kai, the government pollster who heads the secretive Central Policy Unit, the one who lives on cloud-cuckoo-land? We told you about him a couple of weeks ago. Yes, he's the fellow who assured his government bosses the July 1, 2003, protest march would draw mere thousands, not the half a million that actually turned up. Apparently, Lau has been busy doing more of his internal polls to feel the pulse of the people. He's made the astonishing discovery that most Hongkongers oppose the so-called referendum on democracy. OK, OK, it's not astonishing. Other pollsters have long concluded that already. But don't bother asking Lau why he waited till last week to tell us something we already know. He's suffering from a memory lapse. He says he can't remember exactly how many polls he's conducted on the issue or over what time period. But what the heck, it's just the public's money. And in cloud-cuckoo-land there are no rules saying you must tell the people how, why and when you spend their money.