Hong Kong's Legco shows its pettiness in not honouring Mandela
Stephen Vines says majority excel at showing how small-minded they are
Have you ever heard of Sheriff Rick Clark of Pickens County, South Carolina? No? I thought not, and only mention this nonentity because he is one of the very few officials in the world who managed to find an excuse not to honour the memory of the late and great Nelson Mandela.
Clark refused to lower the US flag at his office despite a presidential executive order to do so.
There is one other name to be added to this tiny roll call of shame - it is the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.
The world was hardly shaken by news that a majority of members in Hong Kong's legislature found a procedural excuse not to hold an adjournment debate in honour of this remarkable leader, but it is certainly a matter of concern for local people.
The majority in Legco have rarely missed a chance to miss a chance, but in this instance the undistinguished coalition of non-elected representatives from the rotten boroughs and their best friends from the elected side of the pro-government camp have excelled by joining forces to demonstrate that when it comes to being small-minded they are truly world-beaters.
Avoiding the real point at issue, they chose instead to proffer a slew of procedural excuses for not holding this rather modest debate designed to show Hong Kong's deepest respect for Mandela.