Let’s welcome those localist legislators who show real ability

When the dust has settled, I have high hopes for two localists who have been elected to the Legislative Council. No, of course I don’t mean Yau Wai-ching and Sixtus Baggio Leung Chung-hang. They have shown neither willingness nor ability to conduct the people’s business in any shape or form. Soon they will be thrown back onto the streets where they can continue their protests.

I am thinking of Nathan Law Kwun-chung of the political group Demosisto and Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, an independent. In the end, people should not be judged solely by the political party they belong to, but by what they can actually do. Many Hong Kong people seem to think that as long as you shout loudly about democracy, independence or against Beijing, you deserve a free pass regardless of how counterproductive, reckless or just silly your behaviour is. No, let’s judge politicians and activists by their actions and consequences, not just their slogans.

Here, Law and Chu may yet do great things. From the student leaders’ debate with top officials during the Occupy protest to his run for Legco, the Demosisto chairman has proved to be extremely intelligent, well-informed and above all, civilised. In public forums and debates, he has managed to hold his own against seasoned politicians and government officials. Though the youngest member of the current Legco, Law clearly has the potential to become an effective lawmaker representing the legitimate interests and demands of the younger generation. As for Law thinking Hong Kong should become independent after 2047, well, we will worry about that when we get there.

Meanwhile, Chu has shown unusual courage in standing up to New Territories thugs and kingpins rather than Legco security guards. Even before he was sworn in, he used his campaign to highlight illegal land grabs, incompetent enforcement and shady business deals across the rural north. Without his efforts, we would still be in the dark about the illegal land occupations and under-the-table dealings between various New Territories interests and the government which led to the drastic reduction of a development project in Wang Chau, Yuen Long. I hope for many more exposés from Chu in the coming four years.

We desperately need an airing of the shenanigans that have been going on up north for far too long.