City Beat | Fire-starter or not, Leung Chun-ying's attack on student 'fallacies' had to be done
Leung's policy address attack on student commentaries has sparked a much-needed debate
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's third policy address was perhaps the most political of any that he or his predecessors have delivered.
Leung's term in office began without any honeymoon period, and over the last three years a catchphrase has emerged: "When policies are ready the public should hear about them."
And indeed his speech last week made Hongkongers realise that this annual event is no longer an occasion for him to roll out key policy initiatives.
In the weeks leading up to his policy address, Leung's aides tried to manage public expectations of it, telling the media that the speech would be more about outlining his vision and philosophy.
And it wasn't his measures to tackle housing and other livelihood issues that drew attention but Leung's attack on the University of Hong Kong Students' Union magazine Undergrad for "advocating independence" and "putting forward fallacies" in an article last February and in a book it published in September.
Leung took the opportunity to talk about the "constitutional relationship" between Hong Kong and Beijing, saying that a clear understanding of this would be key to solving the impasse over political reform.
It was no surprise when students and pan-democrats hit back, accusing Leung of trying to suppress freedom of speech.