Opinion | Carrie Lam’s talk of ‘hot kitchens’ in defence of Teresa Cheng insults us all as the justice chief faces a political grilling

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor may have been “shocked” by lawmakers’ criticism from across the political spectrum over the move to increase the age limit for elderly welfare payments from 60 to 65, since the plan was approved last May as part of the Appropriation Bill. But the pro-establishment lawmakers may have been more shocked; they were the chief executive’s allies, with 39 out of the 43 votes in support of the bill coming from their camp, and she basically sold them out.

But most shocking about the chief executive’s question-and-answer session last week at the Legislative Council may be Lam’s resurrected “hot kitchen” talk. This familiar phrase came in her response to James To Kun-sun’s question about the reputation of her administration being affected by her secretary for justice, who refused to seek external legal opinion before dropping the investigation into former chief executive Leung Chun-ying over a HK$50 million (US$6.38 million) payment.

In defence of – again – Justice Secretary Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, the chief executive said Cheng had not been in the “hot kitchen” long enough to know better.

First, this “hot kitchen” talk is so 2017. Lam needs to realise that she used the same excuse at almost exactly the same time last year over the 10 unauthorised extensions found by Buildings Department inspectors at two adjacent three-storey houses owned by Cheng and her husband. And, more unauthorised works were later uncovered (the information was not volunteered) at other properties belonging to Cheng.

Whether Lam’s kitchen is hot was as irrelevant then as it is now. It wasn’t convincing then, and it isn’t now. In fact, it’s insulting to suggest that some people are above public expectations and the principles of public life. According to British government guidelines, the seven principles of public life are selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership – irrespective of how hot one’s kitchen is perceived to be.