Flying Sand

Recipe for disaster being served up in Hong Kong’s incendiary political kitchen

Given the city’s toxic state of affairs, only those in denial could fail to see the depressing truth in chief executive’s comments about new justice chief, writes Niall Fraser

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It appears no one wanted to take on one of Hong Kong’s more important roles – that of secretary for justice. Photo: Sam Tsang

Niall Fraser is a an award-winning journalist with more than 30 years of experience in Hong Kong, Asia and the wider world.

Published: 4:51pm, 9 Jan 2018Updated: 11:15pm, 9 Jan 2018

As Hong Kong shivers its way through a bitter cold snap, the phrase “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen” would – under normal circumstances – have been deliciously funny.

However, given the current state of affairs in our city, only those in denial or devoid of critical faculties could fail to see the deeply depressing truth at the heart of comments made by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor before the meeting of her cabinet on Tuesday morning.

In a nutshell, Lam was asked the following: Does the illegal structure controversy engulfing new Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah show that the existing vetting procedure for top officials is not fit for purpose and does it raise concerns over Cheng’s integrity and questions about her capability to carry out the job she has been given?

No integrity issue, Hong Kong’s leader says, defending justice chief in illegal structure saga

This was Lam’s answer: “ … I do not feel this is an integrity issue, and that’s why it will not compromise Teresa’s position as secretary for justice. It is now very difficult to really attract talented people to come into the administration because of the political situation, and that’s why people describe this situation as being a very hot kitchen.

Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng stands to give her address at the ceremonial opening of the legal year on Monday. Photo: Sam Tsang