THE planned merger of the liberal United Democrats and Meeting Point resembles the old fable about the blind man and the crippled man, which teaches that problems can be solved through co-operation.
The blind man could walk but was desperate to find the right way to go, the cripple knew the way but needed a strong man to carry him. Eventually, each overcame his shortcomings through a simple deal - the blind man carried the cripple on his back, while the cripple told the blind man what paths to take.
This is the kind of dilemma that has spurred the United Democrats and Meeting Point to merge.
The United Democrats are fighting hard for a way to break the wall between them and China, while Meeting Point needs to survive the 1995 elections.
Meeting Point's three directly elected legislators, all of whom received strong support from the United Democrats during the 1991 elections, are now fighting hard for survival.
None could be sure of a safe return to the legislature in 1995. Indeed, commentators are predicting the opposite, saying at least two of the three will lose, with only Fred Li Wah-ming from Kowloon East standing a fair chance of survival. But he will face strong challenges from the Liberal Party and the pro-China Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong.
