In politically polarised Hong Kong, hurtful response to NPC delegate’s death highlights the decline of civility
- While frictions over political and economic issues will continue to rise in Hong Kong, vicious personal attacks, like those directed at Peter Wong Man-kong on his death, serve little purpose
The “two sessions” – the annual meetings of China’s National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference – took place in Beijing in earlier this month. As one of the 36 NPC delegates from Hong Kong, I took part in the proceedings.
He had not been feeling well before making the trip to Beijing. I understand he had been advised not to go, but he had insisted on attending. This was his sixth consecutive term as a member of the NPC. He became a deputy back in 1993, making him the longest serving of the Hong Kong delegation.
As a young man, Wong joined his father’s shipbuilding business, but he became very interested in investing in the mainland when China began to open up. This was partly because he saw opportunities, but he also felt a strong sense of duty to help the country in its development.
One of his achievements was in the early 1990s, when he set up a hotel in the remote region of Gansu province to enable cultural tourism around the Mogao Grottoes and other Silk Road sites.
News of his death shocked all the Hong Kong delegates, and Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was among many in Hong Kong to express her sadness and praise his sense of duty.
We all know that Article 23 is controversial. But I think many people – including me – found this columnist’s remarks in extremely bad taste. Even worse, it must have been hugely hurtful to Wong’s family and friends at a time when they were grieving.
I am sure many critics of the Hong Kong and national governments also feel that this sort of crude insult is out of line. But anyone who looks at opposition and radical publications or websites knows that there is real hatred out there against those who support the local administration and are loyal to Beijing.
Like many of those early investors, he ran into serious problems and sometimes suffered losses. Far from being a “yes man”, he was often fiercely critical to mainland officials of the system there, especially the way corruption and other issues damaged the business environment and the country.
Even in his last months, he remained passionate about promoting the nation’s culture – for example, attending a Silk Road conference even when he was obviously unwell.
He deserves to be remembered for his contribution to China’s – and Hong Kong’s – development. I was a Legislative Council member in the 2000s, and I remember that even during fierce debates, there was nearly always mutual respect and a sense of decency between pro-government and opposition camps.
I still have a lot of respect for those pro-democrats who – like Wong – felt a calling to support the development of China, even if I did not always agree with their approach.
Let’s hope that both sides will try to keep debate civil and refuse to be personal and hurtful. People – on either side – who resort to hate will only harm their own cause.
Bernard Chan is convenor of Hong Kong's Executive Council
