In a little over a month from now, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen will deliver his fifth policy address. Top government officials are doing the rounds of district level consultations now, while the big man is meeting the city's movers and shakers in preparation. But it is highly unlikely that there will be any surprises on October 14.
We already know a large portion of his address will be dedicated to presenting the Task Force on Economic Challenges' new economic pillars. A few paragraphs will be devoted to constitutional reform unless, of course, the chief executive wants to see another walkout by legislators.
Economic pillars and constitutional reform are very important, to be sure, but there is one other pressing issue our government can no longer keep on the backburner. The first order of business for the chief executive is to get his house in order.
Failing to get legislators to co-operate is not the government's only problem. The series of rows within the civil service in recent months poses a threat to the administration's governance and indicates serious problems that will leave the government divided and incapacitated. Not only is the government challenged with social discontent; it seems to be having a really tough time dealing with itself. Unless the chief executive takes concrete steps to resolve these internal disputes, Lower Albert Road will become Hong Kong's political backwater.
Whether disgruntled civil servants are upset over their pay (disciplinary service officers), their work (food and hygiene officers) or their management (public health service providers), they can make or break Tsang's political career. Having been a career civil servant - an attribute once considered his biggest asset - no one should know better than the chief executive the issues of conflict and the solutions to stop them further crippling his government.
Rethinking the pay-review mechanisms or the job portfolios of our large civil service will take some time, but the chief executive must begin by looking hard at those closest to him.