So, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has apologised for his extraordinary remarks about democracy and the Cultural Revolution. Liberal Party leader James Tien Pei-chun has apologised for criticising the MTR Corporation's chief executive for nominating an election candidate. We all say silly things from time to time. But apologies for stupidity cannot disguise the attitudes that underlie the remarks in the first place.
The chief executive clearly has an underlying distaste and distrust for the man in the street, let alone for the electoral democracy that gives voice to the majority. He clearly believes that rule by a group of self-electing, supposedly wise men such as himself is superior.
Mr Tien's remarks seemed based on an assumption that an employee of a majority-government-owned corporation should not be supporting a district council candidate from a political party - least of all one critical of the government (in this case the Civic Party). Yet, the Liberals' chief enjoys the sinecure of head of the Tourism Board, a wholly government-controlled body which, unlike the MTR Corp, is responsible only to the government.
Huge numbers of pro-government politicians are given seats on quasi-governmental boards and advisory bodies. Remember, too, how Mr Tien's brother was able to act as chairman of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation - and to prevail in a row with the professional management even though he was only a non-executive chairman.
The assumptions of both Mr Tien and Mr Tsang lead to the Singapore example, where the government party - or, in this case, parties - have tentacles deep in the bureaucracy and a big business sector in which the government plays a key role. In Singapore that role is usually as owner, while in Hong Kong it is as provider of bounty such as insider land deals.
You don't believe that? Perhaps then Mr Tsang could explain why it is now necessary to spend billions developing the Lok Ma Chau loop, an area previously deemed unsuitable for development for several reasons. The Independent Commission Against Corruption should be investigating why this turnaround has taken place; it should look into any role which may have been played by the land's owners in achieving a change that will doubtless benefit them - at high cost to the Hong Kong public. But don't hold your breath.
