Allan Zeman warns of ‘disconnect’ between Hong Kong government and people

There is a "disconnect" between the government and the people and the administration needs to be seen to be listening more to public views, former Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman said yesterday.

Officials had been too "aloof" in the face of public demands, the colourful entrepreneur said.

Zeman was speaking on a Commercial Radio programme in which he also suggested including students and radical lawmakers on any nominating committee for the 2017 chief executive election to make it more acceptable to the public.

He noted the government had said Occupy Central's unofficial referendum - in which nearly 800,000 people voted for proposals that would allow the public to nominate candidates for the 2017 election - had no legal basis.

"There's no point saying it's not legal ... the government has to be seen to be listening," Zeman said. "There seems to be a disconnect between the government and the people."

Zeman also said he was "disturbed" by the actions of independent lawmaker Wong Yuk-man, who threw a glass at Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying in the Legislative Council on Thursday. He said Wong's actions were disrespectful, but he criticised the decision by the Chief Executive's Office to call the police.