Opinion | C.Y. Leung must wield the axe to salvage government's credibility
Albert Cheng says the chief executive must swiftly remove tainted members of his team and stop violent protests if he is to survive
Since Leung Chun-ying became the chief executive a year ago, his administration has been plagued by an endless string of scandals, leading to the plummeting of its credibility, which has now hit rock bottom.
If the scandal-ridden members of his team, such as Development Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po and executive councillor Franklin Lam Fan-keung, do not step down and the Caring Hong Kong Power doesn't cease from its unruly and violent ways, they could well be the last straw that breaks the camel's back, triggering the end of Leung's regime. In other words, either these "three evils" go, or Leung goes.
On the outside, he needs to rein in these rowdy, uncontrollable 'love Hong Kong' groups
We have seen the bankruptcy of Chan's credibility. First, he was involved in the speculative sale of subdivided flats - a suspected conflict of interest as development secretary. Then he was embroiled in accusations that he drove under the influence of alcohol.
Most recently, he was hard-selling and pushing for housing development in northeastern New Territories and was subsequently found to have owned agricultural land in the area.
After the scandal was exposed, Chan at first claimed to have forgotten the details of his investment. He said his wife and her family, through an overseas entity - Orient Express Holdings - were minority shareholders of the company that owns a plot of agricultural land in the northeast New Territories.
Chan's wife tried to placate public anger by saying she had sold and transferred her shares to her relatives. She then bore the brunt of the criticism and made a public apology.