Source:
https://scmp.com/article/982310/letters

Letters

Legco being treated like marketplace

I used to watch the brawls in the Taiwanese legislature on television and think to myself how lucky we were to have Hong Kong lawmakers who behaved in a rational and orderly fashion.

Little did I know that our own legislature would be reduced to such a farce by the antics of a few radical lawmakers ('Angry exchange sparks mass walkout in Legco', October 14).

Have we become a society that condones egg and banana throwing over rational debate? How can we fault the behaviour of our younger generation when they have lawmakers as role models who resort to aggressive shouting and language as though the legislature were a marketplace?

What is all the more a pity is that one would have hoped that the legislators who came out to question the removal of these radical lawmakers would have shown equal fervour in censoring such disorderly behaviour.

It would seem that lawmakers can hurl objects and abuse while officials are expected to stand there and take it. Surely we should not be held hostage to this situation. The legislature should get its house in order.

V. C. Davies, Central

Lawmaker just asked a question

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen did not answer the question asked by legislator Wong Yuk-man [during a question and answer session on Thursday].

Instead he talked of 'thug-like behaviour' ('Angry exchange sparks mass walkout in Legco', October 14).

Mr Tsang failed to do what he was supposed to during the question-and-answer session at the Legislative Council, that is, to answer questions from legislators who represent the public. While Mr Wong's tone may have been discourteous, his question was clear and direct, yet the chief executive chose to place the focus on his behaviour.

This was not relevant given that the session was concerned with the policy address. Mr Tsang forgot a golden rule in politics, which is to keep your cool.

I am not trying to rationalise or justify the behaviour of certain individuals in the Legislative Council. The final judgment will be made by voters.

It comes down to having a political consciousness, which Mr Tsang lacks.

Yiu Wun-hang, Sha Tin

Tsang should not have lost composure

I refer to the report ('Angry exchange sparks mass walkout in Legco', October 14).

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen had four options when a raw egg was thrown at him by lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung. He could feel scared; evade the egg; catch the egg; or take it easy.

Mr Tsang chose the first option. By contrast, during the election for the governor of California in 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger took the fourth route. His left shoulder was hit by an egg and he said: 'This guy owes me bacon now.'

You can always tell the difference between an experienced politician and one with an Achilles heel.

Having been chief executive for almost seven years, Tsang should have been able to deal with these situations.

Unfortunately, his performance in the Legislative Council was disappointing. He did not face serious injury from an egg being hurled at him.

Also, although Mr Tsang may have felt insulted by Wong Yuk-man's inappropriate choice of words, using the expression 'thug-like' in response was also inappropriate. He is a leader and should be able to control his emotions.

Mr Wong simply raised questions and he should not have been expelled from the Legco chamber. I would be interested to know what Legco President Tsang Yok-sing means by disorderly conduct.

The expulsion of the two radical councillors caused a mass walkout of lawmakers.

They were showing their dissatisfaction with what had happened. This matter also illustrated that democracy in Hong Kong is making backward steps. Will we end up becoming just like the mainland?

Margery Yeung, Tsuen Wan

Long Hair hurting his own cause

'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung is a Hong Kong icon and his achievements are to be applauded, but if he truly wants to work for universal suffrage in the city, he must stop his self-serving antics.

It is plain to see Beijing's attempt at social engineering and democracy and Hong Kong is the Petri dish for its experiments. The Communist Party wishes to keep power, but its leaders are smart enough to understand changes are inevitable.

Controlling that change is paramount to the people in power in China.

They see Leung's antics and those in Taiwan's parliament as a hallmark of destabilisation.

If Leung wishes to help Hong Kong develop democracy, he must curtail his actions. The only segment of society he may listen to and respect are those people who represent his power base. They must say to Leung that enough is enough and that his actions are hurting the cause of Hong Kong's democracy.

Stephen Anderson, Macau

Hostels project may lack funds

The decision in the policy address to build hostels for young people is aimed at easing the discontent felt by Hongkongers who are in their twenties and thirties.

These young people have already expressed their discontent with the government and society.

The project will not be funded by the government, which will instead help non-governmental organisations.

I am concerned that the NGOs will not have enough capital to build the number of hostels needed and meet demand. The government should provide sufficient resources for this project.

Calvin Chung Ka-wing, Sha Tin

Take care with food aid allowances

Many low-income families struggle for various reasons to achieve financial stability.

Some family members may be too old or sick to find stable employment and the government should help them break away from their cycle of poverty.

However, it has to be recognised that these people are not taxpayers and government subsidies come from taxpayers' money.

Officials should take care when selecting who should be given food allowances and ensure that the amounts provided are based on the income of each family, the total number of family members, and the area in Hong Kong where they live.

So Yuen-ching, Siu Sai Wan