The Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) is an international NGO with many local projects funded by the Labour and Welfare Bureau. Tsang Tak-shing is chief of Home Affairs Bureau, which normally has nothing to do with YWCA.

Even by a very long stretch of imagination, it would be very difficult to establish the case that Tsang could affect the internal transfer of a YWCA social worker, through political interference. This is simply too far-fetched and entirely impossible.

But that is what is being said of Tsang.

The social worker concerned did not like the transfer which YWCA insisted was regular and had nothing to do with any interference by Tsang. The social worker resigned from the YWCA and now is waging a battle against Tsang in company with some opposition lawmakers. Tsang was summoned to a hearing of the Legislative Council, but the Council could not establish any improper conduct by Tsang.

It has been shown that what Tsang did was to make a casual remark to the head of the YWCA that he had been sent a copy of a complaint letter concerning the social worker. He said he observed somewhat in passing that harmony in Tai O seemed to be disturbed. There was no indication that he elevated concern or displeasure, and the District Officer in charge of Outlying Islands who was also being accused of political interference flatly denied making remarks attributed to him. He had played no role in the incident.

This is yet another case of much ado about nothing except character assassination by the opposition camp. Apart from groundless suspicions, there is not even prima facia evidence that political meddling has taken place. No matter, the opposition legislators strongly demanded the government launch a thorough investigation into the affair and make public its findings all the same. Should our government succumb to such a ludicrous demand, then in the future anybody who gets sacked or transferred to an unwelcome post can also claim political persecution and ask for “a thorough official investigation into the affair and make public its findings”.More than wasting public money on a wild goose chase, the atmosphere so generated of political correctness and yielding to all opposition’s demands no matter how outlandish they are is suffocating governance, seriously hindering all government efforts to get things done. It also encourages political blackmailing for self interest. Take it from me, if we let it go on there will be many more protests, and they will never cease.