What was really behind 'Uncle Tung's' public show?
Ex-chief executive's reappearance may be bid to bridge gap between Beijing and pan-democrats
What made former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa break his silence after more than nine years? Since he stepped down in 2005, he has refused to make any comment on Hong Kong as he believes in the Chinese doctrine of "one who does not hold an office should not comment on policies".
Yet Tung's first-ever press conference in almost a decade last Wednesday was all about Hong Kong - how to push the city's political reform forward after the nation's top legislature set an ultra-strict framework on 2017 universal suffrage. The pan-democrats condemned the decision by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress as one that "has closed all the doors and windows not even with a crack left" for anyone from their camp to run for the top job.
Tung, however, urged Hongkongers, including the pan-democrats, to accept it, claiming that 2017 would not be the end game. As Tung was eventually dragged back into the public spotlight, he spoke in a different capacity as the vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee, which ranks him as a state leader.
His unprecedented meeting with reporters became headline news while its purpose was interpreted differently. Many believed it was part of Beijing's effort to mobilise public support for the NPC decision as Occupy Central and a class boycott organised by student unions are in full swing.
But why Tung?
Many noted his manner. In his typical "Uncle Tung" style, he made an impassioned appeal to the pan-democrats, urging them not to "finger point" (at Beijing) and to keep the dialogue flowing. He even acknowledged that some participants in the Occupy Central movement and in the upcoming class boycott really love the city.
Tung's soft approach, described by some as a more "human" way of expressing Beijing's tough stand, was noticed by the pan-democrats who admitted that Tung seemed quite sincere. However, nothing would change their decision to veto plans for the future government legislature based on the NPC framework.