Under the Keystone: Eighteen Years in Politics

Margaret Ng joined the Legislative Council as a member in 1995 and served until 2012. As a lawyer, she consistently upheld the spirit of the rule of law in the Legislative Council, despite facing continuous challenges during her tenure: the 1997 legislative body transition, the fight for right of abode for Hong Kong residents' children born in mainland China, the Article 23 legislation controversy, the construction of the High-Speed Rail, and changes in parliamentary culture, among others. The book meticulously records the unfolding events and her personal reflections. As Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun stated, this book is not merely a brief biography of Margaret Ng's political career; more importantly, it bears witness to the rise and fall of the rule of law in Hong Kong over the past two decades, serving as a chronicle of significant events in Hong Kong's democratic progress and legal development before and after the handover. The book is titled "Under the Keystone" because the trapezoidal keystone at the center of the Legislative Council's arch must be perfectly balanced and substantial enough to withstand the pressures from both sides, redirecting the stress back to the arch; otherwise, the entire arch would collapse. Therefore, it can be said to be the intermediary that unites stones of different stances. Looking up from under the keystone means looking up at this ideal position that maintains great harmony. After eighteen years in politics, as she bid farewell to the council, Margaret Ng described her feelings: "I have fulfilled my duty; I do not dwell on successes or failures – whether they are past, incomplete, or could have been done better." In this book, you will not only feel the weight of the keystone but also understand how the author stood proudly beneath it with effortless grace, upholding her consistent beliefs, and walking alongside the people of Hong Kong.