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Knowing when to keep quiet

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The chief executive will leave Hong Kong for a while after he retires, to give his successor more room, he told a newspaper and RTHK this week.

Some have interpreted Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's remarks as a criticism of former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang, who has made frequent public comments on government policies since leaving the administration in 2001. His comments are also seen as paving the way for his bid for a second term.

The suspicion that Mr Tsang was trying to embarrass Mrs Chan is unfounded, however: other former senior officials, too, have become involved in politics after leaving office. Her predecessor, Sir David Akers-Jones, for instance, has remained in the limelight.

The post-retirement arrangements of the chief executive and other senior officials have great political significance, and certainly warrant serious discussion.

Heads of western democratic countries usually cease to meddle in government affairs once they step down. Former colonial governors became members of the House of Lords upon completing their terms of office. Even when revisiting Hong Kong years later, they refrained from commenting on local political issues. The last Hong Kong governor, Chris Patten, is no exception.

Even Tung Chee-hwa, now a vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, has been reserved when it comes to Hong Kong's domestic issues since stepping down as chief executive. All citizens, including Mrs Chan, are of course entitled to express their political views. The words and deeds of former senior officials, however, could fuel unnecessary speculation and misunderstandings. It is thus advisable for them to keep a low profile.

Should former top officials want to assume an active role in politics, they should either join a political party or at least make their intentions public. Otherwise, by criticising policies, they undermine the authority of policymakers, which is unfair to their ex-colleagues.

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