WhatsApp revelations compromise Legco president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing

The disarray within the pro-establishment camp is worse than most people thought. After a week of mutual recriminations, someone privy to the communication between the camp's legislators decided to leak their WhatsApp messages about the electoral reform vote last week.

The sensational revelation is that Legislative Council President Jasper Tsang Yok-sing was "whatsapping" with pro-establishment lawmakers both before and after last week's bungled walkout, which led to their low turnout during the decisive vote.

For all their pro-Beijing protestations, those lawmakers have not learned the much-touted united front. Instead, one or some of them are learning the Western-style dark art of leaking to the press. How ironic!

There are now calls for Tsang to resign. In his own defence, Tsang claimed he violated no rules or procedures of Legco: he did not help organise or encourage the walkout. That may be so, but he did offer opinions on the timing for debate and the vote.

The fact that he was messaging with key pro-establishment players while Legco was in session during the pivotal debate and voting on electoral reform raises serious questions about his impartiality.

The incident has already undermined his credibility as Legco president.