Men thinking of criticising Helena Wong Pik-wan, who could become Democratic Party chairwoman, had better watch out if they don't want their manliness questioned. Wong was in acid-tongued form yesterday when asked if she planned to make a formal apology to the NeoDemocrats for her suggestion that they might be closet supporters of a pro-government party, as NeoDemocrat lawmaker Gary Fan Kwok-wai has requested.
"I have apologised [on Facebook] already," she said. "Is he illiterate and [is he] a man?"
It all began when Democrat Donna Yau Yuet-wah lost narrowly to Chiu Man-leong from the Beijing-loyalist Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, in Sunday's Sha Tin district council by-election.
In the small hours of Monday, Wong lamented the loss on Facebook. "Alas, Donna was 45 ballots short and lost to the DAB. Really have to thank the DAB Team B," she said, referring to the NeoDemocrats, who split the pan-democrat vote. "The pan-democrats are [as disunited as] a tray of sand, and there will be no democracy in Hong Kong in the next 100 years." Wong later deleted the post and apologised online after the remark drew criticism from Chan's supporters.
Lingnan University cultural studies professor Stephen Chan Ching-kiu is poised to take over from veteran politician Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee as the Civic Party's internal vice-chairman. Chan confirmed to the South China Morning Post that he is interested in the post, but whether he will take it up is down to his party colleagues at their AGM on December 1.