Outburst may be a taste of Tung's second-term brio
AN ELECTION with a single candidate is one of the dullest events known to man. So we must thank the sole candidate in the election for Chief Executive, Tung Chee-hwa, for introducing a moment of excitement in an otherwise predictable campaign.
The election came alive, even if only briefly, when the normally mild-mannered Mr Tung waded into Martin Lee Chu-ming of the Democrats at a question-and-answer session at the Legislative Council, berating him for bad-mouthing Hong Kong.
In other parts of the world, this kind of thrust and parry between political opponents is the normal stuff of electioneering. Here, it seemed revolutionary.
Mr Lee, no slouch when it comes to saying what he thinks of the Chief Executive, was clearly taken aback by the ferocity of the counterattack, saying he and his party had a duty to criticise the Government on behalf of the people.
The interesting question is whether the combative Mr Tung we saw at Legco is going to be the new second-term Mr Tung. Are we going to get a more forceful Chief Executive, more self-assured and more comfortable wielding authority than he was in his first term?
This appears to be the case. Part of the reason for unveiling this new combative mode seems to be that Mr Tung's campaign managers are getting feedback from the public that they want to see a more assertive Chief Executive in the second term. 'There's no need to be nice any more, just get on with the job,' seems to be the message.
Mr Tung's aides say that this is part of the evolution of their boss' leadership towards a more pro-active style of governance, and say that this change has been in the making for some time now. If so, we would clearly see a Mr Tung who is willing to confront his detractors, especially in Legco, more openly.
It is interesting that the new-model Tung has been unveiled, either intentionally or unintentionally in Legco. Faced with a hostile Legislative Council, the Government has been taking its message directly to the people. Mr Tung and his senior aides have increasingly been spending time talking to community leaders, interest groups and ordinary members of the public in order to build grassroots support. Legco is in effect being sidelined.
Unless the growing differences between Legco and the Government are patched up, the second term could see Mr Tung and his ministers interacting directly with the public more and more, and going to Legco only when it is unavoidable.
This in turn will increase the frustration that Legco members feel at being in a position that carries increasingly less influence on government policy.
Mr Tung appears to be aware of the danger. Part of his address to Legco not widely reported was a call for unity to meet the challenges Hong Kong faces.
Closer co-operation between the Government and the legislature is essential for the smooth functioning of Hong Kong's political system. If the transition to a more directly elected legislature after 2007 is to proceed smoothly, it is vital that the Chief Executive and Legco spend an increasing amount of time in the second term finding ways to establish a better relationship.
One way would be for the Chief Executive to make more frequent forays to the Legislative Council to answer questions, as well as to explain his policies. A lot of heat may be generated on these occasions, but hopefully there will be more than a little light as well, and also a more smoothly functioning political system.
Thomas Abraham is the Editor of the Post
