My Take | It doesn’t pay to get Beijing too involved
Those who file judicial reviews over the joint checkpoint at the West Kowloon rail terminus should think again, it will only lead to another interpretation of the Basic Law
Though he was disqualified and never became a lawmaker, localist Sixtus Baggio Leung Chung-hang has achieved one lasting legacy: he taught legions of anti-mainland Hongkongers to call Chinese across the border “Chee-na men”.
Long forgotten as a derogatory term used by imperialist Japanese to refer to “racially inferior” Chinese, many locals nowadays are only too happy to use it against mainlanders.
Now, Leung may deliver another lasting blow to the body politic of Hong Kong: invite Beijing to offer another interpretation of the Basic Law.
Following the passage in the Legislative Council of the controversial “co-location” or joint checkpoint arrangement at the cross-border express rail in West Kowloon, he and his supporters are ready to launch a judicial review against it.
“Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung, another disqualified lawmaker, has also filed his own judicial review application. At least three other lesser-known activists are planning the same.