Debunking popular myths about Hong Kong's constitutional design and separation of powers

Regina Ip says the two Beijing officials who raised heckles with their contentious remarks on Hong Kong's political system were addressing what they saw as popular misconceptions

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A flag-raising ceremony being held as part of celebrations in Hong Kong to mark National Day this year. Photo: AP

Published: 9:30am, 17 Oct 2015Updated: 11:25am, 19 Oct 2015

In the run-up to elections, Beijing and Hong Kong officials have learned to steer clear of controversial issues which stoke emotions. Why, then, with the district council elections looming, did two influential Beijing officials - Zhang Xiaoming, head of the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong, and Chen Zuoer, former deputy minister of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office - recently run the gauntlet of local opinion by arguing against the separation of powers in Hong Kong and urging de-colonisation?

Their speeches in fact provide plenty of telltale signs of the underlying causes of their angst. Chen lamented Hong Kong's declining economic performance, which not only lagged behind that of Singapore's, but also compared poorly with Macau in the efforts put into reform and restructuring.

Hong Kong seemed to have lost its vibrancy, self-confidence and positive energies, Chen bemoaned. Above all, Hong Kong has failed to find its place in the nation's grand scheme of development.

It is indeed true that separation of powers has never been practised here, not now, or before 1997

On the political front, Zhang made clear in his speech commemorating the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Basic Law that he would not shun controversy in his exposition of the principles underlying the design of Hong Kong's political system. "Separation of powers" as practised in some Western countries is not part of Hong Kong's constitutional design, Zhang argued. The chief executive lies at the core of Hong Kong's governance. As head of the special administrative region and accountable to Beijing as well as the people of Hong Kong, the chief executive is the linchpin and "rises above the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the government".