Room with a view: British envoy to Hong Kong ‘transcends’ Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying in cheeky Twitter post
The chief executive may enjoy a “transcendent” position over other branches of the Hong Kong government according to a top Beijing official – but Britain’s envoy to the city today showed it is possible to be above its leader.
British consul general to Hong Kong Caroline Wilson posted a photo on her Twitter account overlooking Government House, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s residence in Central.
Playing with a word used earlier by the director of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, Zhang Xiaoming, Wilson wrote in her post: “View from Cheung Kong [Center] over, or should I say transcending, Hong Kong Chief Executive residence Government House”.
Read more: No one is above the law, says Hong Kong’s top judge in surprise rebuke to leader CY Leung's defence of his 'transcendent' position
The city saw a heated debate on separation of powers after Zhang said during a speech last Saturday that the chief executive has a “transcendent” position over the judiciary and the legislature.
Zhang also said that the concept of separation of powers between the three branches was confined to sovereign states and could only serve as a reference for Hong Kong.
His comments alarmed pan-democratic politicians and the Bar Association.
