'Apology should come from Emily Lau'
( 2003-08-22 11:54) (China Daily HK Edition)
Using defence as a means of offence, Emily Lau Wai-hing held a press
conference on Tuesday in which she not only refused to admit that her
participation in a seminar organized by Taiwan independence advocates smacked of
encouraging Taiwan separatism, but even accused the author of an article in
China Daily of "sheer fabrication, hurling indiscriminate accusations, and
making a mountain out of a molehill". She demanded an apology.
Lau's lack of self-reflection and her efforts to blame her critic
came as a surprise. In fact, the one who should apologize is nobody else but Lau
herself.
The signed article in China Daily, which started with the
cardinal principle of "One China", exposed the sinister design of Taiwan
Advocates in holding the seminar at a crucial time when Hong Kong is engaging in
in-depth discussions of legislation for Article 23. It proceeded to criticize
Lau for supporting the cause of Taiwan independence by attending the seminar. On
this basis, it predicted that today's backer of Taiwan separatism would probably
become the promoter of "Hong Kong independence" tomorrow. It cautioned Hong Kong
people to be vigilant. Which part of this rationale does she think is illogical?
So the honorable legislator wants the facts?
Here they are: Her
saying that "the future of Taiwan should be determined by the Taiwan people
themselves" in fact echoed Chen Shui-bian's cry for a referendum on the island.
When questioned sternly by Allen Lee, a local deputy to the National People's
Congress, she still refused to acknowledge that Taiwan is part of China, and
said that she had been saying that for two decades. That was simply an attempt
to confound right and wrong, but her act to cover up her misdeed only made it
even more glaring.
The fact is, Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian used the
seminar for propaganda purposes and staged an out-and-out political show for
Taiwan independence. For the very reason that there were Hong Kong lawmakers
there to give them support, they were able to put forward more reasons to pull
further away from China and to negate the principle of "One Country, Two
Systems". Is it not clear enough to whom Lau was lending a helping hand?
The one who should apologize is Lau, for she has hurt the national
feelings of Hong Kong people. As an elected Legislative Councillor, she has
always posed as the representative of public opinion. Therefore, her trip to
Taiwan this time must have misled some Taiwan compatriots into believing that
Hong Kong people are against the legislation for national security, and that
Hongkongers are willing to brush shoulders and echo the slogans of Taiwan
separatists in disregard of national principles.
This is an insult to
Hong Kong people's nationalistic spirit and smears the "One Country, Two
Systems" principle upheld by the Basic Law.
Naturally, Lau's trip to
Taiwan has provoked condemnation from the Hong Kong media. Some of the people
who participated in the mass protest on July 1 placed a newspaper advertisement
to denounce her for hijacking public opinion and to clearly distinguish
themselves from her.
Apparently, Lau is good at sophistry. She claimed
that she was "anything but regretful", and that she "will continue to do that".
The more she resorts to such rhetoric, however, the more she will lay bare her
lack of nationalistic feelings and her obstinacy.
I would like to give
Lau the following advice: Listen to the people's voice. Do not play with fire
when it comes to the cardinal principle of national unification. Make a sincere
apology to Hong Kong people and distinguish yourself from the Taiwan
pro-independence forces as soon as possible. Otherwise, the day will come when
it is too late to regret.
HK Edition By Dao Yuan
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