It has been more than a year since the pro-democracy camp won landslide victory in district council elections last year. The government has been making things difficult for elected members. It prohibits not only discussion of territory wide issues but also administrative matters at district level. Throughout the past year, pro-democracy district councilors have acted proactively and conscientiously to uphold their political stance both within and outside the establishment. When Hong Kong was hard hit by Wuhan pneumonia, they persevered and swore to defend the rights of Hong Kong people, with no regard for their personal interests and making minor concessions at times in order to gain on major issues.

On the contrary, under the lead of the SAR government, the Home Affairs Department, District Offices and District Council Secretariats show neither sincerity nor humility to work with elected members. They even go against public opinion and use administrative measures to interfere with the work of elected members despicably at meetings, big and small. Their treacherous actions are in effect a full-fledged non-cooperation movement against the public.

Janice Tse, Director of Home Affairs, shamelessly stated in the welcome message of the department’s home page that it gauges and reflects public opinions, local sentiments and community aspirations to the Government. Whereas in reality, her subordinates act in complete opposites at district councils and fall in line with the non-cooperation movement which Carrie Lam advocates against institutions representing public opinion. The following episodes are my personal experience in the Eastern District Council:

1. At district council meetings, members are prohibited from lodging appeals on social issues of public interests;

2. At committee level, discussion and mention of police abuse and violence are prohibited;

3. At all levels of meetings, unreasonable requests are made for revising the original text of documents proposed for discussion; furthermore, if the required revisions are not made, the documents will not be discussed.

4. In terms of allowance for councilors, numerous excuses are used to decline applications related to publicity materials with political appeals. The concoction of various pretexts serves the purpose of political censorship by the Chinese Communist Party(CCP).

5. During the Wuhan pneumonia outbreak, while journalists were allowed to attend meetings for news reporting, assistants who help elected members to perform their duties are barred from meetings.

6. At the time when Hong Kong people were united in the fight against COVID 19, concerns raised by elected members over the pandemic were ignored. District Offices refused to make available meeting rooms for elected members so that they have to hold meetings on the street.

The Home Affairs Department and District Council Secretariats seemed to be on a strike, effectively paralyzing the operation of district councils with no regard to public interests.

7. For all levels of meetings, no vigorous efforts are made to demand relevant government departments or bureau chiefs to attend and address issues raised by members of the Council. As a result, there is no government response to questions raised by council members. The government can continue to ignore public opinion and be a happy zombie enslaved to the CCP.

8. Government officials would walk out of district council meetings anytime they feel displeased with the questions and challenges raised by elected members. They often claim that it is because members show no respect to the government’s representatives, but in essence they evade from their responsibilities and refuse to be accountable to the public.

In just one year of the district council’s term, the performance of the Home Affairs Department and its various units is notorious. This is in sharp contrast with the dedication of elected members. It is hoped that the Home Affairs Department, District Offices and District Board Secretariats will reflect on their attitude and come to realize how wrong they have been. They shall lose no time in supporting the work of elected members in order to meet public expectations. At the same time, pro-democracy supporters shall have more patience and understanding for the incumbent district board members. They must understand that the pro-democracy district board members of all districts are actively following up on various matters, but the government keeps dragging them down. Regrettably, they labor hard to little avail.

(Tsang Kin-shing, Councilor, Eastern District Council)

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