A coalition government, with representatives from major political parties occupying ministerial posts, could be the answer to Hong Kong's flawed political structure, two veteran politicians say.
Allen Lee Peng-fei (pictured), who served on the Executive Council and legislature before the handover and is now a political commentator, said: 'If the flaws in our political system are not fixed, whoever becomes the next chief executive is bound to fail.'
He said he and former Exco convenor Chung Sze-yuen agreed there was a need for a coalition government that co-opted leaders from government-friendly and pan-democratic parties.
'Those parties joining the government must pledge their support for government initiatives in exchange for a key role in policy formulation,' Lee said.
Currently, representatives of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and the Federation of Trade Unions are given seats in Exco, but some non-official Exco members have raised concern about a lack of input in the early stages of policy formulation.
The threat by some government-friendly legislators to withdraw their support for the budget and the bill to scrap Legco by-elections has forced U-turns by the administration.