Off-key and timing's not right...

Sing out strong, lawmakers!

It may be ironic that they can sing no more after the Voice of Legislative Council concert plan was aborted prior to launch.

But make no mistake, the fact that the lawmakers are not singing has nothing to do with the Sing! China scandal that is causing a huge uproar in the mainland.

This comes after recordings of claims by late superstar Coco Lee were released on social media that she had been harassed by the production team of the program.

The show, aired by Zhejiang Media Group, had been a major hit until it was suspended due to the scandal.

Voice of Legco organizer Blue Planet Action did not explain why it was considered inappropriate to go ahead with the concert planned for September 8 in Queen Elizabeth Stadium.

Nonetheless, the cancellation was purportedly related to a local scandal swirling around a large banquet treat for departing Wong Tai Sin district officer Steve Wong Chi-wah.

Reports of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu pulling out of the concert may have catalyzed the U-turn.

Although it had never been official that Lee would attend the event in person, hopes had been high among lawmakers and singers invited to perform on stage that the chief executive would not only attend the event in person but also at least sing along with others.

If the reports are true, the chief executive must be acutely aware of a need to take heed of the public perception about the behavior of government officials and political figures even though successive reforms of the legislature and district councils have firmly established his power under an executive-led political system.

The public is aware that, except for raising eyebrows, they could do little about it even if the lawmakers decided to sing at the Voice of Legco.

New People’s Party lawmaker Eunice Yung Hoi-yan was among the first to declare publicly that she was withdrawing from the singing and dancing event, but it would be unfair to blame her for triggering the show’s collapse.

Instead, a reminder by Lee’s trusted advisor Martin Liao Cheung-kong could have been the reason. Liao, an Executive Council member and lawmaker, reportedly sent a message to his fellow Legco colleagues urging them to avoid doing anything that may undermine how the public thinks about them.

Whether the criticisms are fair or not, the development so far should not stop lawmakers from singing on other aspects of their public service.

For example, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po is expected to propose very soon a set of stimuli to give our stock market a boost against a backdrop of low trading volume.

For example, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority has drawn up a plan to capitalize on land resources with a view to generating additional funding for the cash-strapped cultural body.

Also, for example, concerns are mounting over whether or not the Lantau Tomorrow plan will be completed well above budget like many other public works.

Rather than singing at Queen Elizabeth Stadium, lawmakers can continue to sing loud on these important policy matters.

Keep singing, lawmakers!