What the ministerial system needs is a 'kitchen cabinet'

THE HONG KONG media conducted a review of the ministerial system after its first 100 days and found it has yet to secure the trust of the people. But in terms of evolution, its significance is not to be underestimated.

Ideally, the system allows the chief executive to invite a coalition of political parties controlling a majority of legislature seats to fill all the ministerial positions and join the Executive Council. This will guarantee a stable relationship between the executive and legislative branches, and allow parties, which support the government, to take part in the policy-making process.

However, the probability of realising such a scenario in the near future is low, mainly because the Chinese authorities will not accept it. They perceive it as legislature leadership and insist on maintaining executive leadership.

Apparently, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa is not interested in pursuing this approach, nor is the civil service. But in the third election of the chief executive, in 2007, the media and the community will press all major candidates to reveal their teams of potential ministers. These teams will likely be important in influencing decisions by the Chinese leadership and by members of the Election Committee.

Further, key supporters of chief executive candidates, who are likely to become their ministers, will probably help in lobbying for Election Committee members' votes.

This time around, Mr Tung did not allow sufficient time for his ministers to cultivate a team spirit. Hence, in the initial stage, they seemed to have been over eager to make their mark, while Mr Tung appeared to have failed in forging a team spirit among them.