HONG KONG: Furore over the finger

October 20, 2004
Issue 

Eva Cheng

Hong Kong's recently elected pro-worker parliamentarian Leung Kwok-Hung, known as Long Hair, has overcome one threat to his elected position, only to have more descend.

After being elected to the Legislative Council (the territory's quasi-parliament) on September 12, Leung applied to modify the wording of his October 6 swearing-in oath to emphasise his pledge to the people and the cause of democracy.

The request was rejected, prompting Leung to appeal to the High Court on October 4. After the court ruled that the matter was outside its jurisdiction, the Legislative Council requested it to force Leung to pay for its HK$200,000 or so legal costs. If the court had found Leung responsible, and he couldn't pay, he could have lost his parliamentary seat. On October 13, however, the High Court ruled in Leung's favour, accepting that he brought the case in the public interest.

On the same day that Leung took the parliamentary pledge, there was a heated parliamentary debate over the election of the Legislative Council's finance committee chairperson. The incumbent candidate, Philip Wong, recently gave a rude finger gesture to a protest against the anti-subversion law. He was successfully challenged by pro-democracy campaigner Emily Lau. During the debate, however, Leung was caught on camera making a rude finger gesture. The photograph has since been used in an anti-Leung media frenzy.

Beijing's key mouthpiece in Hong Kong, the Ta Kung Pao, led the offensive, saying Leung's "inappropriate mannerism" shows that he doesn't deserve to hold public office. This argument has been energetically supported by prominent pro-Beijing Hong Kong businesspeople and Beijing's officials in Hong Kong who fed the local media with more reports critical of Leung.

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB), the primary political home of the pro-Beijing legislators that emerged as the biggest parliamentary party in the September election, has called on Leung to apologise in public for his "rude gesturing". It further demanded an internal parliamentary committee to investigate the October 6 incident to see if Leung should be punished.

Leung has said that he was imitating Wong to make a point, not insulting anyone, arguing that the media frenzy is politically motivated. In defiance, he has "given the finger" a few times since on camera. Refusing to apologise, he challenged DAB chairperson Lau Kong-Wah to a televised debate, which took place on October 12. An SMS poll straight after the show had 90% of respondents opposing an apology.

Rejecting the argument that Leung is a bad role model, a high school invited him to address its students on October 11. Leung was warmly welcomed to the frequent cheers of his best known nickname "Long Hair". Many students, school workers and even teachers pressed forward to shake hands with him. The footage of his October 6 parliamentary swearing-in was screened and received with enthusiastic applause.

On October 13, the re-elected Legislative Council met for its first session. Days before, Leung was warned not to wear a T-shirt to the meeting, as he had to his swearing in. He turned up in a red Che Guevara t-shirt, with red armbands.

Meanwhile, during an October 12 meeting of the Executive Council, a body advising Hong Kong's Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hua, Leung joined about 20 members of the April 5th Action and the Alliance against Unemployment and Poverty in a protest outside the government's main office.

Protesters said there are about 500,000 workers who earned less than the median wage and who have to work an average 60-hour week to make ends meet. They demanded a minimum wage of HK$6000 (A$1070) a month or not less than HK$35 (A$6.2) an hour, as well as a 44-hour work week. A Legislative Council motion for the legislation of a minimum wage was defeated the following day.

From Green Left Weekly, October 20, 2004.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

You need Green Left, and we need you!

Green Left is funded by contributions from readers and supporters. Help us reach our funding target.

Make a One-off Donation or choose from one of our Monthly Donation options.

Become a supporter to get the digital edition for $5 per month or the print edition for $10 per month. One-time payment options are available.

You can also call 1800 634 206 to make a donation or to become a supporter. Thank you.