My Take | Local star critic answers the call of conscience
- Leung Man-tao, one of Hong Kong’s most respected intellectuals and pro-democracy figures, has finally quit the anti-government Apple Daily to follow a more reasonable and moderate path
The protest movement has just suffered a big blow with the shock resignation of author and critic Leung Man-tao from Apple Daily.
A long-time columnist of the city’s anti-communist flagship news outlet, Leung has been a pro-democracy activist since the mid-1990s. But in recent years, and especially since June when the current civil unrest first started, he has been vocal in opposing Hong Kong independence, and the violence and vandalism of the increasingly destructive protests.
He has also been critical of the so-called “yellow economic circle” and its implicit threats to businesses that don’t openly follow its line, as well as the whole notion of “self-destruct together”, which he considers nihilism rather than a political goal.
So, in hindsight, it was just a matter of time for Leung to quit the paper. In his farewell column, he calls for respect for reality/realism, common sense, common knowledge and the public good.
“I have been considered too pessimistic, that I pour cold water on the protest movement and have not shown sufficient support for the movement,” he wrote.
“But I have not been a cheerleader for any party or movement. I only aim to maintain sensitivity to reality, the common interest and public good.”
