Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen is unveiled in the 2004 policy address as the head of a taskforce dealing with constitutional development. The intention of this expedient move is manifest. To Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa and his 'think-tank', the popularity of Mr Tsang is now the highest of any member of his government. He seems to be the most employable tool, perhaps the only one, to symbolise the government's commitment to political reform given that even economic recovery could not defuse public aspirations for further democracy as shown by the January 1 protest. This is the second time the same sort of political strategy has emerged in the government of the special administrative region, yet its usefulness is questionable. Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, then secretary for security, was the first to suffer from a similar tactic in the Article 23 controversy. She was pretty popular before the consultation over the security legislation, but ultimately she had to resign in response to mounting public discontent. This story may repeat itself with Mr Tsang, unless concrete steps are taken to build an acceptable democracy for both China and, most importantly, Hong Kong people. GRAY CHAN HEI, Tsuen Wan
