Ex-chief secretary questions need for more harmony and urges better treatment of underprivileged
Former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang laid out her views yesterday on issues certain to dominate the chief executive race next year, but denied she was spelling out an election manifesto.
Addressing 200 young people at a Unicef forum on civil society, Mrs Chan said Hong Kong was not properly caring for those with genuine needs. But she said government handouts could easily turn into a crutch for some people.
She also questioned whether Hong Kong needed more harmony, as Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and state leader Jia Qinglin said in their speeches on July 1.
'In some people's eyes, harmony means: whatever the government proposes you have to support,' she said. 'This is not what I call a harmonious society. One thing we value about Hong Kong is that we are a diversified society. Harmony does not mean society with only one view.
'The government has to let us see that it is just, selfless and truly works for Hong Kong's long-term interest. It should have a high [degree of] transparency and be held responsible to our Legislative Council, and care for all sectors of society, especially those who cannot take care of themselves.
'It has to give opportunity to people to participate in governance. Politicians, political parties and the general public also have their responsibilities.'