Can the new chief executive, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, think outside the box? He may be able to do little about progress towards democracy but, being a student of colonial governance, he must have noticed that two governors during his time made a particular impact: Lord Murray MacLehose and Chris Patten. Why? Because both rejected establishment wisdom.
Lord MacLehose rejected the colonial office mentality by insisting that Hong Kong could be a modern society, that institutionalised police corruption could be fought and that a degree of social justice was compatible with economic growth.
Mr Patten rejected the Foreign Office view that there was no alternative to following a through train driven by China, and tried to bring some elements of self-government and government accountability to Hong Kong.
As a consummate insider, Mr Tsang may find it difficult to look at Hong Kong with a fresh eye. But, as a politician, he must see that leadership requires taking risks. If he cannot take risks with Beijing, he can at least do so with local power holders.
But the prospects seem discouraging. Like most senior civil servants, he seems to have an inflated view of the role of this class.
He talks a lot about entrepreneurship, but comes from a family of government officials. His father was a station sergeant, a formidable position at a time when the senior ranks of the police were mostly filled by expatriates.
His brother made it to the top of the force. But at least Mr Tsang has a better claim than most to grass-roots origins.