Hong Kong is still learning how to govern itself as both officials and politicians have just emerged from the colonial legacy, according to former legislator Christine Loh Kung-wai.
She said it might not be the right time to introduce direct elections for the chief executive and legislature, due to Beijing's stance on democracy.
Speaking at a Rotary Club luncheon, Ms Loh, who heads the private think-tank Civic Exchange, said people in the SAR have yet to learn how to govern themselves.
'Governing is also about charting the direction for the community.
'What we have right now is Hong Kong learning to govern itself . . . The challenge for Hong Kong is for people to take decisions, political decisions, about issues such as social policies, health care and transport. That kind of thinking is not something we are used to because by and large we have not had that experience.
'When we are talking about governing, we are talking about how to do these things,' she said.
