Ho Lok-sang writes that instead of focusing on differences, real or perceived, it is in everyone's best interests in HK to just get along for the sake of the collective good

Here is an extract from Chapter 49 of Laozi's Daodejing (The Classic of the Virtuous Way):

"If people are good, I shall be good to them.

If people are not good, I shall also be good to them.

This way I am really good.

If people are truthful, I shall be truthful to them.

If people are not truthful, I shall also be truthful to them.

This way I am really truthful.

The Sages keep an undiscriminating mind for the sake of all under heaven.

While people use their eyes and ears to discriminate, the Sages' minds are always unsuspecting and innocent like an infant's."

Laozi in these passages teaches us the virtues of being the best we can be: We should simply perform our role honestly, instead of being biased about the person we are dealing with.

Hong Kong can touch new highs if each member of society learns from Laozi. Rather than be stuck with perceptions about other people - which could be wrong anyway - and being judgmental about someone's character, we should look for the best ways to help society abandon its mutual accusations and infighting.

It came to my notice that some alumni of St Paul's Co-educational College have taken issue with the school inviting Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to officiate at its graduation ceremony on Dec 8. These alumni started a petition drive asking the school to withdraw its invitation to the CE. They believe his presence "would have a negative influence on the student body and damage the reputation of the school".

This act of repudiation of the CE follows a similar personal repudiation by the Civic Party. It announced it was not going to meet the CE in connection with the Policy Address consultation exercise.

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged" - so Jesus taught us according to Matthew 7:1. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."(Matthew, 7:3-5)

This is totally in line with the teachings of Laozi. As human beings, we are too often biased and also too judgmental. Leung Chun-ying is the Chief Executive. When he comes to the school to officiate at the ceremony, forget about him being Leung Chun-ying. When he conducts his duties consulting with political parties about the Policy Address, he is the Chief Executive doing what every CE is supposed to do. The Legislative Council (LegCo) members are supposed to do what they should as LegCo members. Never mind that the CE is Leung Chun-ying. Just do the best you can as LegCo members in this important policy consultation exercise.

Leung as a human being is, of course, not without his flaws. The alumni of St Paul's Co-ed and LegCo members know very well they are not without flaws either. If Leung had done something illegal and deserves being charged in a court of law, anyone who suspects this can report it to the police or to the Independent Commission Against Corruption. If he is not charged and convicted, he should be presumed innocent. Don't we still subscribe to this basic principle in common law?

St Paul's Co-ed is a Christian school. It should take this golden opportunity to teach its students and alumni, and also the Hong Kong public, that personal attacks and finger-pointing are unchristian, hypocritical, and unethical. Rather than pointing the finger at others, we should point the finger at ourselves: Are we doing what is really in the best interests of Hong Kong? Is Leung Chun-ying to blame for the polarization of Hong Kong society and are we totally blameless?

I hope people can work together to promote the common interests of Hong Kong. Leung is not perfect - like the rest of us. But his administration has done a lot of good. I am particularly pleased with the introduction of the working family allowance, which will benefit hundreds of thousands of people by increasing land and housing supply. Those who claim his government has done nothing good for Hong Kong are either misinformed or politically biased.

(China Daily 11/03/2015 page8)