Not just a chorus
The appointment of five new members to the Executive Council raises many interesting questions. The first is: why did it take the chief executive so long to make up his mind? Last October, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said in his policy address that he would announce the new Exco members 'shortly'. It took him three months to do so.
This was in marked contrast to the earlier, one-day decision that he made to accept Tsang Yok-sing's Exco resignation (after he had been elected chairman of the Legislative Council) and to appoint Lau Kong-wah as a member. Both men are from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.
Under the Basic Law, the chief executive has unfettered authority to appoint members to Exco. In announcing the appointments, Mr Tsang confirmed they were his decision alone. But the time lag has given credence to the speculation that Beijing was consulted and had influenced, if not decided on, the final list.
One will probably never know whether the appointment of Allan Zeman, a Hong Kong Canadian recently turned Chinese citizen, was considered and rejected, or whether Mr Tsang persevered long enough to secure the appointment of Anna Wu Hung-yuk, an avowed democrat. But many people in Hong Kong, including those on Exco, will find it difficult to accept that Lau Wong-fat's appointment was not a political reward for his decision not to contest the District Council functional constituency in the Legco election, thus allowing Ip Kwok-him, a DAB member, to win the seat.
Mr Tsang used to set three criteria for appointing candidates to Exco: ability, support for his manifesto and love of China. For the latest appointments, he elaborated on the China factor by highlighting the fact that all the new members 'have a thorough appreciation of the rapid development of the mainland' and that 'they will certainly have a positive impact on Hong Kong's strategy in participating in the development of the entire country and the Pearl River Delta region in particular'. But it is equally important for Hong Kong to continue to retain its international character. It is a pity that Mr Tsang finds it difficult to appoint a capable non-ethnic Chinese permanent resident of Hong Kong, of whom there are many, to sit on Exco.
There are two major issues confronting Hong Kong today. The first is dealing with the economic crisis. But despite the appointment of economic and financial experts Lawrence Lau Juen-yee and V-nee Yeh, it is not clear what role Exco will play alongside the Task Force on Economic Challenges, set up to help the government.
The second major and controversial issue is political reform leading to universal suffrage for the election of the chief executive in 2017 and all legislators in 2020. Will Ms Wu's appointment help bridge the divide between the government and the pan-democratic camp on the pace and substance of universal suffrage?
Take Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, another Exco member and former Democratic Party member, as an example. Since his appointment, he has not been expressing any substantive views on future electoral arrangements. Also, the pan-democrats have made it clear that Ms Wu could not represent them; they made similar comments at the time of Professor Cheung's appointment.
When the government finally issues a consultation paper on the electoral proposals for 2012, will Ms Wu promote its stance, or will she make her views clear on such sensitive issues as the retention or abolition of functional constituencies?
The latest appointments have revived the debate on the value of Exco to the chief executive and the people of Hong Kong. According to the Basic Law, Exco is 'an organ for assisting the chief executive in policymaking'. Under the principle of collective responsibility, members have either supported government proposals publicly or remained silent - until recently.
Lau Kong-wah and Cheng Yiu-tong expressed disapproval over the means-test proposal for the old-age allowance. Exco convenor Leung Chun-ying has been much more forthcoming than before in expressing views different from the government's. This month, Professor Cheung offered robust comments on the government's fine-tuning policy on the medium of instruction in schools.
These comments enrich the public debate on government issues. But, by distancing themselves from the government and the chief executive, many Exco members now act more like people outside the establishment than inside it. As the public does not know what happens in Exco meetings, the voices of dissent and disappointment expressed by non-official members give an impression that the policymaking organ may not be functioning properly. This does not enhance the government's credibility.
It is not fair to write off the new Exco members. Ms Wu may offer a more liberal view than many of her colleagues on political reform. Marjorie Yang Mun-tak and Mr Yeh are entrepreneurs who may provide fresh insight into commerce and financial services. Lawrence Lau Juen-yee is an expert economist on China and has extensive links with the mainland and Taiwan. Lau Wong-fat may convince intransigent indigenous constituents to support projects in the New Territories.
So I hope the new members take the reaction to their appointments in their stride. They have an unenviable task of serving an unpopular government. While the chief executive appoints them, they serve the people. In doing so, they should rise above personal interests and relations, and discharge their duties for the benefit of the people, without fear or favour.
Joseph Wong Wing-ping, formerly secretary for the civil service, is currently an adjunct professor at Chinese University of Hong Kong
