Leung and Yau ruin their own future and let down their parents and families
Members of Youngspiration Sixtus Baggio Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching and three of their former assistants were each sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment, convicted of taking part in an illegal assembly for storming a Legislative Council (Legco) meeting room.
The case happened in early October, 2016. Leung and Yao won their seats in geographical constituencies in the Legco election, but in the swearing-in ceremony, they each draped a piece of cloth over their shoulders bearing "independence for Hong Kong" slogans and shouted "fxcking Shina". As a result, their oath-taking was ruled invalid. However, on November 2 when the Legco was holding a meeting, the duo, escorted by other trouble-making lawmakers, forced their way into the Chamber in an attempt to take their oath again. Violent scuffles happened when they were stopped by [Legco] security guards, and in the midst of the confrontation some security guards were pushed down to the ground and had to be taken to hospital for treatment by an ambulance.
The incident aroused strong reactions in society right away. Opposition lawmakers making trouble at Legco had not been rarely seen, yet this was the first time the nation was insulted with dirty words and "independence for Hong Kong" was advocated wantonly. Various sectors demanded they be punished severely. Naturally Leung and Yao lost their seats, and the Legco Secretariat demanded them to return the salaries and subsidies the two had received totaling over $1 million.
In fact, their behaviour was unlawful and unconstitutional, extremely vicious in nature. But Leung and Yao still show no remorse but face it out, as seen from their reactions and their so-called plea in mitigation and self-justifications after hearing of their verdicts yesterday. They have committed crimes but refused to mend their ways, hence sentencing them with jail terms is the only alternative.
Yau Wai-ching in this case had presented a letter of mitigation to the judge saying her parents, both diagnosed with cancer, worried about her and asking for leniency. Yau's parents are sick yet they still have to worry about the daughter, which is worthy of sympathy. But as the daughter, Yau today asks for leniency citing her parents' health conditions as a reason, yet when she was kicking up a big fuss and hurling insults in the Chamber, did she ever think of her own responsibilities to her family and society?
At the Legco election that year, she defeated "oldie" Raymond Wong Yuk-man and won a seat with support from young voters due to her young age. At the time, she stole the spotlight and seemed to be unmatched. But did she ever cherish this opportunity that was hard to come by? Did she ever think of taking this opportunity to repay her parents and teachers for their nourishment and education? The answer is No. What she has repaid her parents, teachers and voters is insulting the nation, swearing like a trooper, living unconventionally and losing her Legco seat. And today, she still has the cheek to make a plea in mitigation citing her parents' health conditions as a reason!
Yau Wai-ching, who spared no pains to put her parents on the spot, expressed no remorse in her letter of mitigation over her past behaviour, as if it were innocent and rightful for her to shout "fxcking" and "Shina". Even the judge rebuked it directly in the judgement, making it clear that there was not reason to give a lenient sentence.
Likewise, Leung Chung-hang, who had said he would make an appeal right after hearing of the sentence in court, kept saying out of the court he was "disappointed" with the court, and claimed in seeming earnest that it was an "absurd logic" for a lawmaker to be charged of "taking part in an illegal assembly" inside the Legco. Leung's case indeed is disappointing, but it is his parents and other family members, not himself, are disappointed. As for the charge on a lawmaker of "taking part in an illegal assembly" inside the Legco, this does sound somewhat "absurd" at first hearing. However, Leung had never taken his oath in accordance with the law from beginning to end, and thus never become a lawful and qualified Legco member. Hence his forcing his way into the Chamber that day is surely "taking part in an illegal assembly". Therefore, it is he himself that is absurd, not the Legco nor the court.
Leung and Yau being sentenced to imprisonment teaches some young people a timely lesson and serves them a reminder. Being unconstitutional and unlawful and advocating "independence for Hong Kong" and making trouble will come to no good end. Doing such things, one will not only ruin his own future but also make their families humiliated and disappointed. How can one not think it over and over again?
05 June 2018
