Despite the last-minute flurry of comment, the many weeks of consultation on the further development of the political appointment system has given people ample time to express their views. Hopefully, we will now see determined implementation of the proposal as another step in strengthening our government structure. Some of the comments are well made and can also be put in hand, but let's not stop this worthwhile proposal in order to think about these other things.
Hong Kong 'ministers' now undertake their responsibilities almost without help, unless they employ their permanent secretary in a dual role as head of the executive departments they control and as ministerial deputy. Without the complete support of a full-time deputy, ministers are unable to do enough to develop and promote the policies covered by their portfolio. They need to get out and about in their constituency and gain first-hand knowledge of local points of view. They need to travel abroad and exchange views with foreign officials and ministers. An efficient deputy will hopefully release them from some of their bureaucratic drudgery so they can perform this proper ministerial role.
Hong Kong has now moved on from the days when there were few, if any, elected legislative councillors. It is widely admitted that things are now very different from the colonial era. We should not put obstacles in the way of necessary change. We should recognise the need to strengthen a weak structure, and we should not try to turn back the clock to the 'good old days'.
The appointment of deputy ministers will not weaken the position of civil servants. Instead, it will give permanent secretaries the time and space to get on with their civil-servant role, rather than acting as quasi-politicians - which they complain loudly and frequently about. Moreover, our civil servants are executives who come and go when the time is ripe to begin the next round of musical chairs. Very often, that happens just when they have become really knowledgeable and useful. This leaves ministers without their eyes and ears, sometimes at a critical juncture during policy formulation, and they have no choice but to accept the next civil servant on the waiting list.
So, rather than pour scorn on the idea of deputy ministers before we know who is being appointed, we should be saying, 'better late than never' and, 'for heaven's sake get on with it!'
This is not the only improvement in recent months. Another has been made which has not attracted much attention: the appointment of some fresh faces and independent thinkers to the Executive Council. The body is stronger as a result.