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Letters to Young Lawyers (VI)
2008-09-05 Dear Colleague In his letter today(5th September 2008) to voters, Mr. Junius Ho has made several unfounded attacks on me which should not go unanswered. 1. “A further four years of mistakes?” He has failed to identify any ‘mistakes’. My records demonstrate substantial contribution both to the profession and the public at large. Perhaps Mr. Ho thinks that it is a mistake not to have advocated that the profession’s sectoral interests should be put above the public interest? 2. “Party politics before the profession?” I founded the Civic Party as a vehicle to promote democracy and a fair society under the rule of law. These are values for which every member of the legal profession should justly be proud. I have never been any party’s puppet, and to make such insinuations is a cheap jibe. 3. “Looking after the interests of the public” I stood by the side of leading members of our profession who turned out for a dignified silent march after the Interpretation by the Standing Committee of the NPC on 26 June 1999 which struck a severe blow to “one country, two systems” and judicial independence. Where was Mr. Ho? On his own admission, in his office. Did he say or write a word in defence of the rule of law at the time? At the time of the consultation on Article 23 and on the Bill, did he write or say anything in defence of civil liberties? 4. “Universal suffrage is more than slogan shouting” I agree. That is why I have applied myself conscientiously to presenting rational arguments to those in authority and to rally public support over the years. Mr. Ho has done nothing, and only now jumps on the band wagon for the purposes of his campaign. Holding true to the principles of democracy and the rule of law may seem an “ideological crusade” to Mr. Ho, but this only exposes his own distance from the aspirations of the Hong Kong people. 5. “Time for change of face”? I have never said that only I am fit for the job. It is for the electorate to judge whether Mr. Ho is. Throughout the campaign, Mr. Ho has on many occasions accused me of dereliction of duty, of surrendering the independence of the legal profession to a political party, of virtually all the ills which the Legal Profession has suffered. Yet, on the occasions we have met, when asked to supply the details so that I may answer his accusations, he says he will give them in due time. I am still waiting. Let him name any occasion on which I have put the Civic Party before the profession to my face in the Joint Forum. Let him give those details so that I may answer. For all his accusations, the honourable thing would be to withdraw them if he cannot make them good. You will know the man by his conduct. Vote on Sunday, 7 September 2008, for the profession and for Hong Kong! Yours sincerely Margaret Ng |
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