Taiwanese Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Wang Ting-yu joined Hong Kong protesters in praising former Cathay Pacific CEO Rupert Hogg for taking a stand and protecting his employees at the expense of his own job.
Taiwan News reported Hong Kong local media saying that authorities in China had asked Mr Hogg to give them a list of his employees who had taken part in the recent protest that have roiled Hong Kong. Mr Hogg chose to protect his employees rather than betray them and only provided one name on the list – his own.
Following that, Chinese state-run media announced on 16 August that Mr Hogg had resigned from his position at Cathay Pacific. This, according to Taiwan News, indicates the ‘intimate involvement’ of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the investigations of the airline.
Cathay Pacific made an official announcement of Mr Hogg’s resignation about 30 minutes later, saying that he was stepping down as CEO and adding fuel to the speculation that he was under pressure from authorities on the mainland.
When Mr Hogg was reported as providing only his name on the list that was requested by the CCP’s Civil Aviation Administration, netizens responded with praise for the now-former-CEO with comments such as “We must remember this gentleman’s name: Mr. Rupert Hogg!”
DPP legislator Wang Ting-yu wrote on his Facebook page two day after the announcement of Mr Hogg’s resignation that the selfless act reminded him of Taiwanese lawyer Tan Te-Chang who had burned a list of names of people on the Settlement Committee during the incident on 28 February 1947, saving many lives.
Wang noted that Mr Hogg, like Tang Te-chang in Tainan all those years ago, chose to sacrifice himself in order to save others.
Wang also wrote a tribute to Mr Hogg saying that “True warriors show the noblest glory of human nature when facing great decisions.” He added:
“He took responsibility for the strike and resigned!
He didn’t sell out any Cathay Pacific employees!
He took responsibility himself!
Please remember the name of this gentleman.
Mr. Rupert Hogg!
I salute you!”.
