City Beat | Picking sides in the battle for reform
CY Leung's support for anti-Occupy campaign is necessary even if it invites controversy
What was the message Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying was sending when he and his aides signed an anti-Occupy Central petition last week?
"I oppose using illegal means to achieve any goals on political reform," Leung said as he announced his support - in his personal capacity - for the campaign by the Alliance for Peace and Democracy.
His move was backed by Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor - who is in charge of the reform consultation for the 2017 chief executive election - and dozens of other political appointees.
The only official who made it clear he would not sign the petition was Secretary of Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, because he has to remain impartial in dealing with the possible prosecution of participants in the civil disobedience campaign.
The Code for Officials under the Political Appointment System stipulates that appointees "shall not sign or procure signatures to any public petition against the actions or proposals of the government".
Leung explained that the anti-Occupy petition was not against the government, but added that he would not pressure his colleagues into signing it as they were entitled to the freedom to express their opinions as long as their actions did not violate the code.