Banker and non-affiliated legislator David Li Kwok-po appears to have taken to heart the criticism levelled at him by his functional constituency electorate, as reported in two recent Corridors. He did not attend last week's Legco debate touching on the stability of the banking system, and left the chamber the previous week at his usual 3pm deadline, hours before a debate on government intervention in the market.
On Wednesday, however, we saw a deeply attentive Mr Li staying throughout the motion sponsored by Democratic Party legislator Albert Ho Chun-yan, even though the debate did not start until 4.50pm and lasted until well past 7.30pm.
The motion expressed the Legislative Council's strong dissatisfaction with the performance of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.
Opposing Mr Ho's motion, Mr Li stole the limelight from his colleagues with his longest speech lasting for a full six minutes, in which he said he did not recognise the Monetary Authority as it was described in Mr Ho's motion.
Mr Li disagreed with the charge that the institution had 'repeatedly erred in its effort to maintain the linked exchange-rate system in the wake of speculative attacks on the currency since October last year'.
It was a stirring moment, and possibly the start of a new approach. Corridors should not claim any credit, but we must admit to feeling just a little pleased.
A briefing paper from the Transport Department to deal with the new drink-driving laws revealed an error that could have handed local lawyers the neatest little legal loophole for clients who are found to have turned the crystals green under the stringent new regulations.
