OpinionChaos or connections, the show goes on
Chief executive realises protests are unavoidable but will not give up plans to seek people's views
Political shows or reaching out to the people? Unfortunately the line is becoming more and more blurred in today's Hong Kong.
Getting in touch with the people - through town hall meetings; shaking hands in the streets; kissing babies; or dining in the local cha chaan teng can be regarded as good ways for senior officials to get a direct line to the people, but at the same time, they can also be seen as a kind of political spin.
It just depends on how different people perceive it.
But as protesters now tend to follow officials wherever they go, it is easy for the media to focus on any clashes or chaos if confrontations occur, and the event itself could be neglected or forgotten. The whole thing becomes a "show". A political public relations show to some, or a protest show to those with different views.
So yesterday, when Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying started the first in a series of summer "reaching to the people" programmes by meeting residents in the New Territories town of Tin Shui Wai - once labelled a "city of sadness" - to learn more about their living conditions, it became, as expected, an event with two meanings.
Leung said he came to "listen" to public views without any pre-set agenda. He must have been encouraged by the understanding and support he got from many participants, although they also complained about various livelihood issues. However, his political opponents, including certain radical groups, protested as planned and accused Leung of staging a "show".
The point here is: do we or do we not want our officials, including the chief executive, to "go down to the districts" to meet people directly? Will this achieve any substantial goals if these meetings turn in chaos?