THE Housing Authority chairman, Sir David Akers-Jones, has made his choice. When Beijing names the second batch of Hongkong advisers to the mainland next week, the former Chief Secretary and acting governor is expected to be at the top of the list.
With this pending, his decision to resign after five years as head of the premier policy body on housing in the territory falls into perfect place.
''I can neither confirm nor deny it at this stage,'' Sir David said yesterday. ''I think I will have to wait until China decides to make an announcement. Some people think I already am one.'' Absolutely spot on, Sir David. When it comes to matters of his political position of late, it is clear that he has abandoned any impression of impartiality when it comes to Hongkong-China affairs.
After the arrival of Governor Chris Patten last July, and the promulgation of the democracy blueprint, people like Sir David, and there are plenty of them in Hongkong, are going through a process of outing that is pivoted on a divergence of views about the best way forward for Hongkong.
It is not just that his corporate interests, most notably his chairmanship of the National Mutual Insurance Group or the directorships of China Paint or Global Assets Management, need to be developed in an environment amenable to broad Beijing-Hongkong goals. It is also a question of conviction.
Sir David, like other former policy secretaries such as Sir Piers Jacobs, believes that the territory's best interests are to be served by adhering to the principles of the Joint Declaration, the Basic Law and the seven letters of exchange between Londonand Beijing.