Source:
https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1936182/reflect-your-deeds-hong-kong-delegate-top-china
Hong Kong/ Education

Reflect on your deeds, Hong Kong delegate to top China body would advise CY Leung over left luggage saga

Rita Fan says Hongkongers expect public figures to follow normal procedures

<p>Rita Fan says Hongkongers expect public figures to follow normal procedures</p>

Hong Kong’s sole delegate to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee has waded into the debate surrounding a piece of luggage belonging to a daughter of the city’s top official.

Of course, if what you did led to a public misunderstanding, then you should reflect and try to improve. Rita Fan Lai-tai

Approached by reporters on Friday while at a public event, Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai said she had no idea what exactly happened and that only those involved would have knowledge of the March 28 incident.

Fan was asked if Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying had exerted pressure on airport workers to deliver the left luggage of his daughter Chung-yan to a restricted area at Hong Kong International Airport.

“But if there was indeed special treatment or if he exercised his powers, then I’d hope he wouldn’t do it again,” she added.

Fan laughed off a question on whether the controversy would dent Leung’s chances of running for a second term as chief executive, saying anything could happen between now and the election scheduled for March 26 next year.

Leung Chung-yan (left) with her parents Regina Leung Tong Ching-yee and Leung Chun-ying. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Leung Chung-yan (left) with her parents Regina Leung Tong Ching-yee and Leung Chun-ying. Photo: SCMP Pictures

The veteran politician then adopted a more serious tone, asserting that a public figure should always be careful and avoid giving people the impression that he or she had “affected normal procedures”.

“Hongkongers put a lot of importance on public figures acting in accordance with procedures,” she said.

“Of course, if what you did led to a public misunderstanding, then you should reflect and try to improve.”

On Tuesday, Leung said the decision to retrieve the luggage for his daughter was made by security and airline staff, not by him or his daughter.

His comments drew sharp criticism from the Hong Kong Cabin Crew Federation, which felt the chief executive was shirking responsibility over the incident.

Around 500 federation members were set to join a sit-in protest at the airport this Sunday to demand an official explanation from Norman Lo Shung-man, director general of the civil aviation department. To date Lo has been silent on the incident.