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We must all get behind chief executive-elect's restructuring plan

The article ('Shake-up delay 'may leave C.Y. in limbo'', April 28) gives cause for concern.

You say that the administration of chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying could be hamstrung if the Legislative Council does not approve his restructuring plan.

I sincerely hope our lawmakers will see that it is in their interests to fully co-operate with the incoming administration despite their initial political posturing.

I believe Hong Kong has weathered the current global economic downturn extremely well, thanks primarily to the mainland's rapid growth and strong support from the central government. However, the next five years will be very challenging for the city due to the ongoing restructuring and subsequent slowdown of the Chinese economy, as well as the continued economic difficulties in the US and Europe.

Therefore, a relatively small (yet dynamic) economy like Hong Kong's, which to a great extent is reliant on the mainland and global economies, cannot afford to be complacent.

History is littered with tales of successful city states that failed because they did not adapt to critical strategic changes confronting them.

Too often, they were over-reliant on tried and proven policies. Let us avoid being like the US and Europe, where politics is so polarised that nothing gets done.

For Hong Kong to remain prosperous, the incoming and existing administrations, all lawmakers, different levels of government employees, various business sectors including our tycoon groups, unions and the people of Hong Kong must work together. They must ensure the successful and timely implementation of the much-needed structural changes.

This restructuring is only a beginning.

A lot more needs to be done to address the many challenges facing Hong Kong, such as developing a more balanced and sustainable economy and providing a better working and living environment for all citizens.

After all, what every Hong Kong person wants is to demonstrate to the world and especially to the mainland that the SAR will remain a well-run 21st-century global city with a dynamic but sustainable economy.

In other words, we can and must continue to play the value-adding role of a strategic international hub by bringing the rest of the world to China, and the rest of Asia through Hong Kong.

A new paradigm awaits us.

P. H. How, Mid-Levels

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