Was it a hint of how our political structure has changed, and may continue to do so? Since mid-April, a fascinating discussion has been going on in Hong Kong over Cao Erbao's important essay on governing Hong Kong. The essay, published in January 2008 in the Central Party School's newspaper, Study Times, is interesting from many perspectives.
First, Mr Cao, head of the liaison office's research department, revealed the existence of a second 'governing team' for Hong Kong, comprised of mainland cadres. According to Mr Cao, this parallel body to the Hong Kong government is justified because, under the Basic Law, there are issues relating to the central authorities and the Hong Kong special administrative region that should naturally be handled by mainland officials. Those affairs within the autonomy of the special administrative region are dealt with by Hong Kong officials.
However, there may be issues that cannot be solved by Hong Kong alone; they would require input from the mainland team. The example Mr Cao used was the right of abode issue in 1999, where the National People's Congress Standing Committee had to interpret the Basic Law to restrict the categories of people entitled to live in Hong Kong.
Second, the transformation of that team of cadres into an important governing power, according to Mr Cao, reflects a major policy shift by the Communist Party towards Hong Kong. He referred to a report by the president and party secretary, Hu Jintao, at the 17th party congress in 2007 that emphasised 'new situations' in maintaining stability and prosperity in Hong Kong. Mr Cao stressed that it was necessary for the party to 'thoroughly and properly train, build up and deploy the team of cadres' dedicated to Hong Kong affairs.
As for a definition of 'new situations', the United Front Department, an organ central to the party's functions, noted in June that the unprecedented situation in which a socialist nation had resumed sovereignty over a capitalist territory meant many 'complex interests' were involved.
Third, Mr Cao pointed out that the team of cadres would need to operate openly as a legitimate entity under 'one country, two systems' conditions. The author does not elaborate, but was most likely referring to the work of the party in Hong Kong.