It is easy enough to undermine the authority and stature of the legislature but very hard to restore it. When the person responsible for diminishing the Legislative Council's standing is its most senior official, matters go from being merely serious to very grave indeed. Yet even some members of Legco have failed to understand the extent of the damage wrought by its president, Tsang Yok-sing.
Tsang says he is determined to help the government pass its constitutional reform legislation. In so doing, he has undermined the office he holds and driven a cart and horses through pledges he made both before becoming president and subsequently.
Tsang said he would uphold the traditions of the legislature and not take sides in debates, nor show favour to any party within Legco. He would, in other words, act in the manner of his counterparts in legislatures throughout the world, where the presiding officer is a neutral figure above politics.
Neutrality is not the same as impotence. On the contrary, in this instance, it is a guarantee that the business of legislators is overseen by a powerful and impartial officer, whose authority stems from a recognition that the interests of the law- making institution are not undermined by partiality or accusations that it has become an arm of government. This enables legislatures to fulfil their role as institutions that represent their electorates and act as watchdogs over government actions. This is fully understood in all legislatures of good standing and was understood by successive presidents of Legco until Tsang's arrival.
He is now arguing that this legislation is too important to fail, and that he needs to do his part in ensuring passage of a bill that is the subject of deep divisions within Legco. He notes that he is not only the president of Legco but also a directly elected legislator 'responsible to the people'. This is a perfectly valid argument, but with a fatal flaw. If Tsang wishes to act as an ordinary member of Legco - and indeed believes that this bill is so vital as to require his active support - he needs to resign immediately and vote according to his conscience. It is not good enough to say he may resign later; he has already made himself a central figure in the debate. No one would criticise him for this; on the contrary it would be recognised that he is a man of principle, prepared to sacrifice high office to uphold his principles.
But Tsang wants it both ways. He wishes to support the government while remaining in an office that simply does not allow him to do this. He is not stupid and fully understands this, yet stubbornly insists that the position of president is not undermined by what is, in effect, short- term expediency. The problem with short-term expediency is that it inflicts long-term damage. Once the president of the legislature has behaved in such a forthright, partisan manner, his personal authority is irreparably damaged and the authority of his office is undermined forever. It sets a precedent allowing the president to be both the impartial arbitrator and a partisan participant in Legco's affairs.