Toxic Legco politics even claims Secretariat

Many Hong Kong people, understandably, have a low regard for our lawmakers, whether of the pro-government camp or of the opposition bloc.

If there is one saving grace, it is that the Legislative Council Secretariat, which manages the day-to-day operations of the legislature, has stayed above the fray and remains politically neutral. Traditionally, both camps have respected or at least not questioned its neutrality. But not any more.

First, a former security guard has claimed she and colleagues were asked to declare their political stances – whether of the “blue” pro-government side or of the “yellow” pan-democratic camp – two years ago. It’s unclear whether her charge has merits, but if true, it’s a breach of trust by Legco management.

Then, the Secretariat has been accused of siding with pro-government lawmakers in the fight over the controversial extradition bill. There is even an online signature campaign signed by more than 20,000 people calling on Kenneth Chen Wei-on, the head of the Secretariat, to resign.

The role of the Secretariat in both cases is murky, and clarity is surely needed to maintain public trust in its neutrality.

The security guard in question recently resigned after being told her contract would not be renewed. Being a disgruntled ex-employee, though, doesn’t automatically undermine her claim. If she and others had indeed been asked to sign a form to state their political affiliations, it should not be too hard to find proof.

Legco president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen is right to treat the complaint seriously. An independent probe is needed to determine what happened and if possible, clear the air.

In the second case, Chen is accused of interfering in Legco business and exceeding his authority. The two rival camps have been fighting – in one recent incident, physically – over the chairmanship of the bills committee that will scrutinise the extradition bill.

The Secretariat sent a circular to Legco members to vote, on paper, on whether to adopt a guideline to replace Democrat James To Kun-sun with the government-friendly Abraham Razack as committee chairman. My understanding of Legco rules is that only lawmakers themselves can decide such matters in a committee meeting. But then, opposition lawmakers are creating a storm in a teacup because, first, they could just ignore the circular, and second, the guideline was legally non-binding.

The real problem, however, is that Legco politics has become so toxic that even the Secretariat is being dragged through the mud.