Hong Kong lawmaker Wong Yuk-man's 'question' was just dead wrong

It's not for nothing that people call the Legislative Council lap sap kuk, the garbage council.

Rumbustious lawmaker Wong Yuk-man has a reputation for throwing objects at officials. This week, though, instead of throwing things, he threw a temper tantrum. During a question-and-answer period, Wong asked Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying: "When will you die?"

This is not a question but an insult, and a completely pointless one. If we as taxpayers are paying Wong HK$100,000-plus in pay and perks to ask questions of such calibre, I suggest he gives back his salary.

We know many Hong Kong people would like to see the end of Leung's reign. So I think it's appropriate to ask whether he would quit anytime soon, or if he would rule out running for a second term, a question which in fact has been repeatedly raised by pan-democratic lawmakers, pundits and reporters. But to ask someone when he is going to die?

Watch: Radical pro-democracy lawmaker Wong Yuk-man's temper flares asking Chief Executive "When will you die?"

I wouldn't be so rude as to ask that of my worst enemies, even in private. Legco president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, remarkably, egged Wong on.

"Neither the chief executive, nor I or members of the public, need ... lectures on what can and cannot be said [in Legco]," he said afterwards.

Tsang seems lately to be unable to keep the Legco house in order. Legco does have written rules to enforce decorum and proper behaviour. But he doesn't seem to care these days.

Wong was on an extended rant in which he accused the chief executive of "badmouthing" and "betraying" Hong Kong whenever he visits Beijing. Fair enough. Then came the "question". Later, when explaining to reporters, Wong said it was because many of his supporters had been urging him to pose the question.

Really? You would wish the whole point of political representation is that those who are elected have more talent, ability and/or wisdom than those they represent.

But Wong is clearly worse than the rabble he works so hard to rouse. For centuries, people equated democracy with mob rule. Wong is that kind of politician who gives democracy such a bad name.

With a garbage council, what can you expect than garbage lawmakers like Wong?