Whoever takes up the posts of security and finance in cabinet is of secondary importance. The core of the problem lies with Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.
The ministers have been responsible only to Mr Tung. It is a top-down approach in our government as evidenced by the behaviour in the past of Secretary for Security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee.
If Mr Tung's attitude to Article 23 was flexible, would Mrs Ip have dared to behave the way she did? Her full understanding of Mr Tung's stance gave her confidence to display her contempt to the public.
This attitude has also been reflected on some of the appointed councillors' faces and in their behaviour. Relying on Mr Tung for a living, they have displayed their 'loyalty' to him. Now Mr Tung has shown regret for some of his wrongdoings in the past and says he will be more open-minded in his consultation with all walks of life in the future.
We wait for Mr Tung to prove just that.
He must pass a test of good faith immediately. This is a revamp of the Executive Council. No less than 40 per cent of the so-called 'anti-government councillors' in Legco must be invited into Exco so that Mr Tung does not repeat the mistake of exposing himself only to views which he likes.