The "Chief Executive Election Civil Referendum" led by Occupy Central co-founder Benny Tai Yiu-ting, an associate law professor with the University of Hong Kong, kicks off today. Some pro-democratic members in the Election Committee have spread the word that they would use results of this "referendum" as an "important reference" when they cast their ballots at the CE Election on March 26.
In fact, since the beginning of the CE Election campaign, the opposition has been making an issue of results of so-called "opinion polls", and even talking about their own nominating and voting intentions as the "indication" whether a candidate is popularly supported. John Tsang Chun-wah, one of the candidates, has also repeatedly boasted that he "has the widest support in the political spectrum", and attacked his major rival for only having nominating ballots from the pro-establishment camp, saying this is not helpful to heal "social rupture" and would make her governance difficult after elected, and so on and so forth.
Are such assertions based on facts? The answer is No. Intention and support of the pro-democratic members in the Election Committee are by no means the sole indication for this CE Election, let alone has something to do with the cohesive ability and governance of the CE to be elected.
As a matter of fact, according to the "one country two systems" principle and Basic Law, the CE must be responsible to the Central People’s Government and the SAR, the Central Government has the substantial power to appoint a CE. The Central Government has also repeatedly stated that a CE must meet the four basic requirements of loving the nation and Hong Kong, being trusted by the Central Government, having the ability to govern and being supported by Hong Kong people, as well as the ability to handle a complicated situation. The major premise for all such requirements is to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, including to support the Basic Law interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) and to firmly oppose "independence for Hong Kong".
Given this, one can't help but ask: on such important issues of principle, what a constant stand does the opposition including pro-democratic members in the Election Committee take? What attitude do they take? The answer is they never respect the Central Government's constitutional status, never support the CE's governance in accordance with the law. During the major events of political reform, Occupy Central and some lawmakers' illegal oath-taking, they have opposed the Basic Law interpretation by the NPC Standing Committee and bolstered up words and deeds for "independence of Hong Kong". It is they who are the "trouble makers" and major source for the long-lasting uproar in the SAR, the difficulties for the government's administration and social differentiation and splitting.
Today, amid the CE Election, they suddenly pose themselves as "constructors", talking lavishly about harmony and governance, and even attempt to be "king makers", as if gaining their support were meant winning "the widest support", and not otherwise. Don't they know how the word "shame" is spelled, acting in such a way as to cover up their misdeeds by shifting the blame on to others and waver between two extremes?
It can be said, therefore, it is a CE candidate's due responsibility to strive to strengthen communication with different stake holders in the political spectrum to gain their understanding and support so as to change the antagonist situation and heal social rupture. However, the 300-odd pro-democratic members in the Election Committee and Benny Tai and his ilk have seen their right to nominate and vote [for CE] as an instrument to manipulate the candidates, coercing them to oppose the NPC Standing Committee's interpretation of the Basic Law and support the prosecuted pro-Hong Kong independence lawmakers in their lawsuits, as a price in "exchange" for their votes, making a "Deal with the Devil". It is clear and self-evident whether in this way they want harmony or to split [society], to support the CE's governance in accordance with the law or to further oppose the Central Government and make trouble in Hong Kong against the law.
As for John Tsang, it can be said a "suicidal move" for him to hug himself on so-called support from "different sectors on the political spectrum". In this way not only can he not win the Central Government's trust, but even will cast shadows on his own "political spectrum" and make a big mess.
10 March 2017
