Liberal Party wants to see effective and efficient government
I refer to Alex Lo's column and the question asked in the headline ("Tien: closet pan-dem or opportunist?", August 31). I am afraid he has got it all wrong.
First he has fallen into the same over-simplistic thought process of many commentators, that there is only black and white in the Hong Kong political spectrum. We in the Liberal Party believe that this totally misreads how rational and moderate Hong Kong people feel about the predicament we are in.
Political polarisation caused by the intense tug of war between the pan-democratic and the pro-establishment camp has left many Hong Kong people extremely frustrated. The fact that the chief executive and the government have failed to cast their net wide enough to group together talents, regardless of political affinity, so as to map out inclusive policies, has resulted in discord that stands in the way of good governance.
The Liberal Party has always considered its mission is to propose ideas to bring about effective and efficient government. However, we do not blindly support policies and action by the executive that we and our constituents believe may not be in the interest of Hong Kong.
I have consistently adhered to our party's vision to safeguard the interest of Hong Kong by taking positions according to our party's philosophy. If Lo has cared to follow my words and deeds over the years, he would know that I strive to listen to political views which differ from mine.
However, it is abundantly clear that the beliefs I strongly hold for Hong Kong: the importance of the free market economy, the need for small government, the steady pace of constitutional reform, and the building of trust with the central government, have repeatedly gone on public record.
Public record also shows that the Liberal Party's decision in 2003 to ask for a deferment of the bill on Article 23 was taken collectively by all our legislators to avoid bloodshed, which we believed would occur if the government pushed ahead with the legislation.
It was a view shared by an overwhelming majority of the community, including many in the business community and the pro-establishment camp.
I hope Lo is not suggesting that saving our city from violent clashes could only be the prerogative of the pan-democrats or that no one in the pro-establishment camp should do anything to defuse the crisis.
