The results of an annual survey by Chinese University's Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies on the performance of legislators, released on July 29, were telling. The biggest political party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, enjoyed only a 13.7 per cent satisfaction rate among voters after the first session in the new legislature.
The corresponding figures for the DAB's rivals were even less inspiring: 10.8 per cent for the Democratic Party, 8.7 per cent for the Civic Party and 5.4 per cent for the League of Social Democrats. In other words, no single party can claim the support of even 20 per cent of the electorate - results consistent with the 45 per cent voter turnout in September's Legislative Council election.
Leaving aside the league, whose radical position rules it out as a mainstream political party, the three other major parties must do more to connect themselves with the people. This is vital as Hong Kong moves towards universal suffrage, when the government will need the support of a representative political party. At the same time, we need a strong opposition to check and balance the government.
The DAB is the largest party but it has only 13 of the 60 seats in the legislature. Worse, it has consistently received fewer votes than its rival pan-democrats in all past direct elections. This needs to change if it wants to assume a greater role in both the government and the legislature. Yet it faces two major problems: the first is leadership and the second is trust.
Among DAB's present leaders, Tsang Yok-sing has made himself more respectable as Legco president. But others are less impressive. For example, Tam Yiu-chung is modest and reasonable, yet uninspiring. And while Lau Kong-wah is articulate, his latest popularity rating as an executive councillor is a record low level of 41.4. As undersecretary of commerce and economic development, Greg So Kam-leung has been remembered so far for his misuse of his name card.
But this leadership problem is not insurmountable. The DAB has already put the young Starry Lee Wai-king and Gary Chan Hak-kan in Legco, and it continues to recruit new blood, particularly from the professional sector. If and when the central government gives a stronger hint that the DAB may become a ruling party, more ambitious and capable people will join the camp. The expanded system of political appointments will continue to be a training ground for the future leaders of the DAB.