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Chief executive 'has now become too soft and forgiving'

Chris Yeung

Setting out Hong Kong's policy agenda for the next five years in his 2007-08 policy address in October last year, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was expressed hope and a sense of vitality as he looked forward to a flying start for his second, and last, term.

In his speech titled 'A New Direction for Hong Kong', he laid down a long to-do list, promoted the notion of co-operation among government, enterprises and citizens, and instilled a sense of history.

'What we need,' he declared boldly, 'is more consensus, less controversy; more practical action, less empty talk; more cohesion, less division.'

His high-sounding hopes have failed the test of reality miserably in the past 12 months. As his administration made mistake after mistake, the feel-bad sentiments deepened in society.

In this newspaper, Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, a newly elected legislator and former colleague of Mr Tsang, wrote: 'The executive branch, hard-hit by a series of missteps that have gravely undermined its credibility, appears rudderless.' The founder of the think-tank Civic Exchange, Christine Loh Kung-wai, has questioned whether the government has lost the will to govern.

They are not alone in feeling perplexed about Mr Tsang. A well-placed source in the administration has observed that the chief executive has lost his fighting spirit and 'merciless' work style. 'If he has been too ruthless to his subordinates who had made mistakes in the past, he has now become too soft and forgiving.'

The source said it was also intriguing that Mr Tsang had become increasingly invisible at the daily 'morning prayer' session, at which ministers exchange thoughts on the news and map out political and public relations strategies accordingly.

'Since the political-appointee controversy and a spate of government fiascos that followed, the whole team has not even held a single brainstorming session to reflect on what happened.'

In a sign pundits described as a reflection of his dismissive attitude towards his falling popularity rating, Mr Tsang said at a Legislative Council session on July 16: 'Since becoming financial secretary in 1995, I had no ambitions for my own political career. The rise and fall of popularity is only like passing clouds to me. What I care about day and night is my spiritual advancement.'

A former close colleague of Mr Tsang said it was intriguing that the chief executive was suffering from the siege mentality that his predecessor Tung Chee-hwa adopted.

Mr Tsang 'doesn't seem to have trust in anyone. He blames the media and does not want to deal with them,' the former colleague said.

Civil servants also felt betrayed by being left to take the blame.

'Under the so-called accountability system, nobody takes responsibility,' the former colleague said.

'One major problem for him is that he genuinely believes he was elected by the people of Hong Kong. But we all know he was chosen because Beijing thought he would be able to pick up the pieces in the post-Tung era.

'We should never underestimate what Beijing may do if the run of governance fiascos continue.'

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