As a loyal servant to Beijing, Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang carefully selects his subjects upon which to speak.

Recently, he denounced vandals who damaged Gallant Garden, a cemetery for valiant civil servants, as being “shameless” thugs, maybe unbalanced or holding evil intentions. “They hurt the feelings of Hong Kong people,” he said.

Tsang throws stones in a glass house. His own performance in exploiting Hong Kong’s unfair political system appears “shameful”. After pushing sham reforms in 2005, he switched to twiddling his thumbs and offering nothing meaningful, despite the public’s democratic ambitions. As the prospects for legitimate rule fade, Tsang looks ready to secure Beijing’s blessings for another term in office.

The vandals at Gallant Garden committed a crime and showed rudeness to the dead. But Tsang disrespects the still-breathing citizens by holding office with neither a public mandate, nor plans to secure one.

Repairs can smooth away the impact of vandalism. Not so for political damage inflicted by the hapless chief executive. He offends Hong Kong people and darkens their future.

(September 2, 2006)

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