Michael Chugani, a columnist and TV host often known for stirring controversy, wrote an opinion piece for the SCMP about how Hong Kong could really use a bit of dictatorship, and not the democracy so many Hongkongers have been pining after.
In case you think we’re exaggerating, here is the actual headline: “Hong Kong needs a dose of dictatorship, not democracy, to get things done”.
“Forget about democracy”, Chugani writes in the piece published on Friday.
Despite our rule of law, low crime rates and stable economy, Hong Kong society is “decaying”, he claims.
The columnist then explains how it’s “broken in numerous little ways”.
Just look at the fact that drivers are never ticketed for stopping in the middle of a crosswalk! Or that deliverymen are allowed to leave their cases of water cooler jugs on the street! And how outrageous is it that taxi drivers blatantly flout the rules and select their destinations and passengers? (Note: These are all actual examples he gives.)
What is this, Zimbabwe? Oh wait, that country already has a dictator. Never mind.
Hong Kong “idolises” democracy, Chugani writes, and that’s partially to blame for the “growing rot” in society, since the government holds endless public consultations to gather everyone’s opinions and nothing gets accomplished.
(So he’s accusing the Hong Kong government of being too democratic? Ha!)
But the “worrying signs” of a crumbling society – like drivers allowing oversize suitcases onto the bus – stem from a “lack of leadership”.
So instead of being so blinded by our quest for democracy, we need to focus on the important things, like fixing overcrowded MTR trains.
“A dose of dictatorship is what we need to get things done,” he concludes.
Maybe this is all just a dig at CY Leung and he wanted to use a clickbaity headline?
Probably not, but we’re going to pretend that’s the case so that we don’t slam our faces into our keyboards.
Photo: Screenshot via Youtube
