Banquet for highflier leaves a bad taste

Departing Wong Tai Sin district officer Steve Wong Chi-wah was given a lavish banquet treat last week prior to his setting out to Beijing for a year of training in public administration.

The event was extravagant, raising many an eyebrow.

Former chief executive Leung Chi-ying hit out, saying the incident could be just the tip of the iceberg that, in a way, helped to shed light on a worrying trend among the pro-establishment that is over the top and wasteful.

Relative to the boastful nature of the event, the waste of food and wine would appear to be of minor concern.

Executive Council convenor Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee has likened district officers to "mini chief executives."

This is in light of their augmented power following the overhaul of the district administration system in which district-based organizations must secure recommendation from the "mini-CEs" of their districts before they can be considered for a place in the bodies being created under the revamped district councils.

It would be tempting for local figures to suck up to these officials.

Did Wong ever try to act to avoid arousing suspicions?

Rather, the banquet was characterized by worship-like instances, with souvenirs and effigies bearing his likeness.

If he had not been a district officer, it is unlikely that the pro-establishment local organizations would have showered him with such personalized tributes.

The point is that the official authority is conferred to the office - and Wong happened to occupy this office.

It would be dangerous to mix up the two.

Former DAB lawmaker Chan Kam-lam - who was among the 500-plus treating Wong to the lavish farewell - was all but misleading when he came to the defense of the banquet fiasco, which at least reflected the mindset of Chan and his peers.

Leung did raise a rather legitimate question: what was the effect socially and politically - good or bad?

Judging from the fallout since Wong's lavish treat was brought to light by Sing Tao Daily, the sister paper of The Standard, the perceptual outcome has been a disastrous one.

Perhaps organizers of the event may plead innocence.

With even the Central Government's Liaison Office was represented at the banquet, who in the local district would not scramble to show their presence and hold up high papers bearing Wong's portrait?

There is no denying that Wong is considered a high flyer in the government - among the civil servants selected for training in Beijing, he has been made "class monitor."

Instead of giving a casual comment of surprise that Wong was so popular, Home Affairs Secretary Alice Mak Mei-kuen should have responded to the public's concern over the worship-like drama with greater assertiveness.

When the various elements of power, personal connections and individual worship are put together, it can often breed something else.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu broke his silence yesterday, saying a simple expression - like a letter or an e-mail - would be good enough to show appreciation.

Perhaps he should make this formal since officials attending a public event - and officials attending a public event held in their personal honor - are entirely different matters.