The Chinese government's announcement of a new batch of Hong Kong deputies to the national advisory body last weekend has gone almost unnoticed. Bar a few government-friendly dailies, most newspapers did not have in-depth coverage of the appointment of 122 local faces to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
If a radio phone-in programme can be judged a barometer of public opinion, people have reacted to the appointments with indifference and apathy. This is in contrast to the intensity of publicity and controversy surrounding the election of Hong Kong delegates to the National People's Congress (NPC) last year. Intense electioneering before the balloting aside, the post-election war of words among some candidates over alleged manipulation of votes caused a stir in the community.
But if people on the street can be excused for their recent apathy, it is because the new batch of members contains few surprises. Also, few people can relate the appointments to their immediate problems and Hong Kong's development.
Superficially, more than a third of the incoming CPPCC deputies are new faces. Compared with the incumbent batch, which will officially step down in March, the new group is younger and comprises elite people with a more diverse background. Politically, many have a more moderate image. Some also hold key positions in the Hong Kong government.
The new batch merely embodies ongoing changes in the loosely defined pro-China camp as Hong Kong's colonial legacy fades. More than five years on, the traditional political and ideological divide between pro-British and pro-China forces is long gone. Under the special administrative region era, there is a more complex web of pro-Chinese government groups and figures. The line is increasingly blurred between those who are friendly and supportive of the mainland and Hong Kong governments and those who are not, or are seen as such.
Although more moderates have joined the political organisations under the communist-led political system, the dividing line between 'we' and 'they' remains firmly in place. This was obvious in the manipulation of votes in the first round of NPC elections last year, which was aimed at preventing any democrats qualifying for the final voting. Not surprisingly, the new CPPCC line-up also does not include pro-democracy figures.
