Leung Chun-ying's announcement that he would not seek re-election and the opposition's winning over 320 seats in the Election Committee, these two events have led some people to harbour an unrealistic illusion about the upcoming election of the Chief Executive and even the future development of the SAR. This is worthy of attention and vigilance.
With regard to the upcoming CE election, the opposition has reached a remarkably "shocking" conclusion, based on the supposition that Leung Chun-ying giving up re-election is meant all the SAR Government has achieved in past four years are nothing but all mistakes and failures, that the Central Government's "intervention" must be blamed for all such SAR Government's mistakes and failures in the past four years.
This is not only a far deviation from facts but also a totally ungrounded assertion to fool themselves as well as others. The one and only point that can be proved is that they still wishfully harbour the day dream of resisting the Central Government and "self-determination by Hong Kong people".
As a matter of fact, the relation between Leung Chun-ying's announcement not to seek re-election and the governance of the SAR Government in past four years as well as the Central Government's policy toward Hong Kong can absolutely not be described by a simple formula of "one plus one equaling two". First of all, Leung-Chun-ying himself already made it clear that he gave up re-election in order to take care of his family. Secondly, right after his announcement, the Central Government fully affirmed his performance and achievement in office, and various sectors in Hong Kong also expressed their regret. All reactions are positive, nothing concerning the Central Government's "manipulation and intervention" in Hong Kong.
In past four years, in fact, Leung Chun-ying's performance and achievement in office, such as in housing construction, poverty alleviation, caring for the elderly, environmental protection, infrastructure construction, promoting exchange and cooperation with the Mainland and proactively participating in the "one Belt One Road" project, are all accomplished facts before everyone's eyes. Even those who dislike Leung the most do not deny this. Whoever becomes the next CE, the inevitable course he or she must take in administration is to develop the economy, improve people's livelihood, and strengthen cooperation with the Mainland. Apart from this, there is no other way. The Central Government hopes the SAR to stop political antagonism and concentrate on economic development, improving people's livelihood, fostering harmony and promoting democracy. This is also the Central Government's constant and all-encompassing policy that won't change because of a change of the CE.
Likewise, in the past four years, the CE has spared no effort to implement "one country two systems" and the Basic Law, proposed a political reform package based on the August 31 Decision by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), resolutely dealt with the law-breaking "Occupy Central", Mong Kok Riot and the problem of the rise of "independence for Hong Kong" with courage and commitment, and sought judicial reviews to disqualify legislators-elect who declined to take their oaths as required by the law. All he has done accords with the Basic Law and the rule of law in the SAR, and supported by citizens. It is hard to imagine that his successor could possibly not to deal with "Occupy Central", not to crack down on "independence for Hong Kong", not to take action against whoever "declines to take oaths as require by the law", so as to sit idly and let "independence for Hong Kong" run rampant and the legislature fall into chaos. It is even harder to imagine that the Central Government would shut its eyes and turn a deaf ear to such law-breaking activities in Hong Kong to resist the Central Government and create trouble in the SAR, taking a laissez-faire attitude and not demanding the SAR Government to take actions in accordance with the law.
Consequently, it is impossible that, because of the CE succession, there would be some fundamental change in the qualification for the future CE, the SAR Government's administration and the Central Government's policy toward Hong Kong. The CE must love the nation and Hong Kong, lead the SAR Government and Hong Kong society to implement the "one country two systems" principle and Basic Law, devote all efforts to develop the economy, improve people's livelihood, promote harmony and promote democracy, firmly safeguard the nation's territorial sovereignty and security, and resolutely crack down on any activity attempting to split the country. All such basic principles for administration won't change and cannot be changed. A new CE in office, different as the style of his or her administration may be, must carry on the fundamental course. The opposition sees the CE election as an opportunity that can be exploited to resist China and make trouble in Hong Kong. They are daydreaming - that's all.
15 December 2016
