Whether we like it or not, I believe Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa will stay in the job until the end of his term.
In the interim, before the next election in 2007, changes may be made in the power-sharing structure, however. The day-to-day running of the government and policy formation initiatives will be delegated to a senior cabinet member - for example, Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang Yam-kuen - and Mr Tung will remain a figurehead.
A directly elected chief executive and a fully directly elected Legislative Council are the only means to ensure that the blunders of the past six years will not be repeated.
In the meantime, I would advise the democrats to maintain a healthy dialogue with the business sector in Hong Kong and, where possible, the central government. A mass rally is but one means to achieve their ends. What the central government needs is assurance and proof beyond reasonable doubt that a directly elected chief executive and a fully directly elected legislative council will not destabilise Hong Kong, will not drive away foreign investors, and will improve the efficiency of the government.
The question is: How can the democrats effectively deliver their assurance to the central government?
KENNETH LEUNG, Jardines Lookout