Expect Tung to launch reforms, top official says
But analysts warn against reading too much into Tang Jiaxuan's comments
The central government expects Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa to undertake political reforms in the near future, the state councillor in charge of Hong Kong affairs said yesterday.
But while saying any improvement in Mr Tung's governance would be beneficial, analysts and politicians in Hong Kong have been cautious in interpreting the words of State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan. They have warned against getting too excited about the prospects for any dramatic political change.
Speaking on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the Communist Youth League's 15th national congress, Mr Tang said Mr Tung was expected to initiate a wide array of reforms.
'There will be economic, political reforms and other reforms to improve the livelihood of people,' Mr Tang said, when asked if Mr Tung would introduce universal suffrage in Hong Kong.
'Your chief executive is a sincere person. He will reveal that [quality] in his speeches in the future.'
But Mr Tang did not elaborate on what specific reforms were in the pipeline.
Mr Tang's comments were the first real indication from the central authorities that Mr Tung would be introducing measures to speed up the political reform process after the resignations of two key ministers last week, amid widespread public disaffection with his government.
Mr Tang said Mr Tung had not been reprimanded by the central government during his closed-door meetings with officials on Saturday.
'There were only encouragements [from the state leaders]. But Mr Tung had some self-criticisms,' Mr Tang said when asked if the chief executive was criticised for mishandling Hong Kong affairs.
Johnny Lau Yui-shiu, a veteran analyst of mainland politics, said the understanding of 'political reform' was different between state leaders and the public in Hong Kong and people should not hold out too much hope on issues such as universal suffrage.
'Political reforms on the mainland are actually administrative reforms, such as improving the efficiency of the policy-making process, more transparency and consulting more views from different sectors. Constitutional reform is another matter, which state leaders have already said should be done in a gradual manner. But there is a clear signal that Tung is being asked to change his style of governance,' Mr Lau said.
Joseph Cheng Yu-shek, professor of political science at City University, said the reforms would probably involve changes in the government's advisory committee system and the launching of a public consultation on constitutional development.
He said hope was slim that full universal suffrage would be introduced in the 2007 chief executive and 2008 Legco elections.
'I sincerely hope that I am wrong in the matter,' he said. 'But in any case, Tung is under heavy pressure to improve.'
Legislator Emily Lau Wai-hing, of The Frontier, said she believed Mr Tang meant nothing more than minor changes were likely, such as a reshuffle of the chief executive's cabinet.
'Of course, I want him to bring big reforms, but realistically, Tang is a communist and what change do you think he would bring?' Matters such as reorganising the Executive Council would be ground-breaking reforms, Ms Lau said.
