OpinionIs Frederick Ma readying himself for a political comeback?
Albert Cheng issues a note of caution as media-savvy former commerce minister Frederick Ma signals his ambitionswith high-profile statements
In his second term as chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa implemented a system of appointed officials in an attempt to resolve the difficulties in governance.
He also recruited people from outside government to help him run things, trying to shake off the shackled mentality of using administrative officers.
The ministerial system has now been in force for 11 years. Unfortunately, the track record of the elite group of professionals who joined the government isn't too good, and some careers ended less than gloriously. Those who were forced to step down include former financial secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung and former health chief Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, while others left the government after a stint.
Today, some in the Leung Chun-ying administration have already lost their credibility, but insist on carrying on. Development Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, Environment Secretary Wong Kam-sing and Education Secretary Eddie Ng Hak-kim spring to mind. The public has lost faith in their ability to accomplish anything.
Among the elite group of professionals recruited from outside, the cream of the crop was undoubtedly former secretary for commerce and economic development Frederick Ma Si-hang, who was popular with the public.
Since leaving the government in 2008 for health reasons, Ma's popularity has been steadily climbing.