Hong Kong’s oath drama must end, and it’s time to boo its two villains off the political stage

Alice Wu has had enough of the brouhaha over the oath-taking by two lawmakers. Now they’ve been disqualified, Hong Kong should focus on the electoral battles ahead

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Hong Kong’s High Court has disqualified Sixtus Baggio Leung and Yau Wai-ching from taking office as legislators. The two have vowed to fight the ruling and “appeal at all costs”. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:01am, 20 Nov 2016Updated: 10:57am, 30 Nov 2016

If you’re tired of all the politics, I feel you. It’s draining, to say the least, especially when the melodrama in Hong Kong is dragging out; it has become downright dreadful when we know there is no respite in sight.

We were supposed to have a brief break after last September’s Legislative Council polls, before the next big event. Even though a large number of people will be unable to cast a vote in the Election Committee subsector elections, less than a month away, and in the chief executive election, scheduled for late March next year, the city should by now be focusing on what’s ahead.

But, thanks to the two recently disqualified lawmakers, who lacked the necessary knowledge, ability and respect for oath-taking, our (albeit dysfunctional) legislature has basically been shut down for a month. The ugly politics that should have been insulated within the chamber once again spilled out onto our streets.

Lawmaker Eddie Chu argues with a pro-Beijing counterpart during a Legco session on October 19, a week after the swearing-in ceremony. Legco has been basically shut down for a month. Photo: AFP

Outside the Legco chamber on October 19, pro-Beijing supporters step on a portrait of Yau Wai-ching as they object to the localist pair’s antics during the oath-taking. Photo: AFP

Forget about localism, now it’s narcissism that’s at play

And what should have been decided and concluded on September 4 is now dragging on indefinitely, with two or possibly more by-elections added to the election overload.