Tung needs to set out his political agenda for all to see

IT IS NOW ALMOST a fait accompli that Tung Chee-hwa will be declared Chief Executive for a second term on February 28, when the two-week nomination period for the election ends. As a galaxy of dignitaries rush to pledge loyalty to Mr Tung, it has become virtually impossible for any other aspiring candidates to secure the minimum of 100 sponsors needed from the Election Committee to challenge him.

According to the Chief Executive Election Ordinance: 'If at the close of nominations only one candidate is validly nominated, the returning officer shall publicly declare the candidate to be returned at the election.' Unlike the inaugural chief executive poll in 1996, there will not be any forum for even the privileged 800 Election Committee delegates to meet and question the candidates.

Now that Mr Tung is heading for almost certain victory, he apparently wants to drum up as much friendly endorsement as possible to make up for his lack of a popular mandate. He has been gearing up his electioneering machine, even though he is unlikely to face any opponent.

The fact that his coterie of allies has heaped praise on him has already backfired. This has only reinforced the impression that the chief executive poll is a 'small circle' game that has little to do with the average person in the street.

Instead of bringing too many of his cronies on board, Mr Tung should focus on explaining in detail his policies for the next five years.

He has been known to dither. He has attempted to initiate a wide range of ambitious reforms on many fronts, but has subsequently shelved some, while back-pedalling on others. In areas such as housing and education, the situation is close to total confusion.

This sorry state of affairs is, in a way, understandable. The administration has been bogged down by a global economic downturn, while officials have to respond to public opinion and pressure from the Legislative Council. Despite its claim to be an executive-led Government, citizens are well aware of the Tung administration's limitations.