Workplace Violence is OK in LegCo.

Ted Hui, assaulter of women.

Workplace violence is unacceptable. Except when a male politician attacks a female civil servant in our parliament. That’s the tacit line taken by politicians Claudia Mo and Audrey Yu, who seek to defend an attacker. Their assertions beggar belief. 

I’ve written before about the loutish behaviour of Hong Kong’s democrat community. Just when you think they’ve learnt a lesson, along comes the next clown to prove these people are clueless. The democrats claim that Beijing is working to undermine them at every turn. Well, Beijing doesn’t need to disrupt their standing. They are capable of that without any help or cajoling from anyone.


​In the past, they’ve thrown things at officials, threatened harm, and created a scene to garner attention. The LegCo chamber looks like a circus rather than a place of honest debate. Hiding behind their status, they evoke privileges to do things that would earn criminal charges for ordinary folk.

In the latest episode, Democratic Legislator Ted Hui attacked a female civil servant. He snatched her phone and papers, then ran into a toilet. He then appears to have accessed the phone’s contents. I don’t use the word ‘allegedly’ because Hui has admitted most of this in a series of cringe-worthy apologies. This repeated genuflecting has taken on a farcical tone. Standing like a silly schoolboy, head bowed, chastened; he refused to answer questions. 

And the best bit. Mr Hui is a solicitor. He’s not some unknowing dilettante or street-thug with no understanding of the law. He’s a member of Hong Kong’s legal fraternity. A fact that speaks volumes about the quality of that profession. 

According to reports, Hui now faces possible charges for his disgusting actions. Robbery, theft and indecent assault may be suitable depending on the evidence.  Even his party has turned against him, although they are wobbling on what to do next. 

Meanwhile, Claudia Mo has declined to stand with her sisters to decry this attack on a woman. Instead, she makes mealy-mouthed excuses, folding the truth in a contortion of spitefulness. Mo and her cohort don’t wish to see Hui censured. In other words, they give an endorsement to an attack on a female. 

Even the strident Emily Lau, former head of the Democrats, and not above creating scene, has condemned Hui. She has not chosen to sanction violence against women, something Claudia Mo appears willing to do. 

But why has this sort of thing developed? For too long the lunatic fringe in the democratic movement has held sway.  Staging stunts to create publicity they've pushed the boundaries. All this lowers the bar on acceptable behaviour. Norms of civilised conduct eroded as Long Hair threw bananas, while Claudia Mo yelled like a banshee. Aggression, threats and violence is the new benchmark. 

These antics then spill over to the streets. Young protesters took their cue from these legislators. Some believed it’s acceptable to assault security guards and police officers. When the courts finally get involved, after lengthy delays, it comes as a shock to face jail. Without a hint of shame, the democrats, who fostered this environment, lay the blame on the government. ‘Alice in Wonderland’ twisting of the truth fills their speech. Words such as ‘crack-down’ and ‘suppression’ weaponised to undermine legitimate legal processes. 

Hui joins a steady line of democrats facing legal proceedings. In most cases, their arrogance and sheer foolishness brought the downfall. Before Hui, we had Sixtus Baggio Leung Chung-hang (his real name) and Yau Wai-ching. Both won stunning election victories in 2016. Then they threw it away with childish stunts during their oath taking.  Next, we have Leung Kwok-hung, Lau Siu-lai, Yiu Chung-yim and Nathan Law. All disqualified for failing to make their vows correctly.  

Topping this list is prize clown Howard Lam. He’s pending trial for allegedly faking his kidnapping and assault. You can’t make this up. 

The democrats appear to be on a suicide mission. It would be entertaining, except it undermines our governance. However, we’ve learnt a valuable lesson from this episode, the likes of Claudia Mo and Audrey Yu are willing to sacrifice their sisters for cheap political gain.

---