I refer to the article written by Lau Nai-keung headlined 'Tung sticks to the Confucian way' (South China Morning Post, December 15). One significant factor that Mr Lau failed to make clear is that there is a serious basic flaw in the 2,500-year-old Confucian way of thinking. Namely, that because of the hierarchical nature of the Confucian philosophy, its followers are trained not to listen to people beneath them (in this case Hong Kong people) and listen instead to themselves, or to the people above them (in this case the PRC Government). This was no doubt very suitable in the time of Confucius, but it is hardly a recipe for success in the modern world and, in particular, in Hong Kong's modern society. If you apply this logic, it figures that just 16 per cent of Hong Kong people give Mr Tung their support yet he is fully supported by Beijing. This is the Confucianist model, pure and simple. This mode of thinking rarely works in business and, as the freedom and prosperity of China during modern times shows us with clarity, it doesn't work in government either. As your writer chillingly points out, Mr Tung 'is ultimately responsible only to his own conscience'. This sadly does not bode well for the citizens of Hong Kong as Confucianism dictates that the conscience within is firmly tethered to one's master above. GERRY BALL Happy Valley
