A while ago, the Australian state of Queensland advertised 'the best job in the world', to promote tourism. But the best job - or at least the easiest, and at considerable public expense - is found in Admiralty. That's the job in Legco held by 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung, and he almost lost it this week.
Leung could face impeachment and lose his Legco seat after he was given a two-month jail sentence for his part in disrupting a public meeting. But the pan-democrats are circling their wagons, so it does not look like there will be the two-thirds majority of votes needed in Legco to send him packing.
Imagine how these people would react if a pro-establishment lawmaker was jailed and his Legco allies refused to vote for impeachment. The pan-democrats are especially high-handed as there is a precedent: Chim Pui-chung, who lost his seat after being jailed for forgery in 1998.
Many lawmakers are diligent and responsible. You may disagree with them, but they deserve their pay and perks. Not Leung, or his fellow Legco clowns Albert Chan Wai-yip and Wong Yuk-man. Their sloganeering has made words like 'democracy', 'universal suffrage' and 'Tiananmen Square' seem vacuous.
They are like naughty students who never do their homework and deliberately disrupt class so they can get kicked out and are free to do what they like for the rest of the day. Their sole function now is to interrupt meetings and get ejected. For that, they get HK$73,150 a month - HK$80,465 after an impending pay rise - not counting other perks and expenses. Nice job if you can get it.
