The governing authority of the administration has come under fierce attack in recent weeks. The New Year's Day marchers, calling for universal suffrage in 2012, took their protest to the central government's liaison office instead of to the Hong Kong government headquarters in Central, hence undercutting the power of the administration.
There have been heated demonstrations against the construction of the controversial cross-border express railway link, which reached boiling point yesterday. At this critical point, when the government is most vulnerable, the last thing we need is internal disorder at the highest level.
Executive Councillor Leung Chun-ying published an article this week in the quarterly Hong Kong Journal, a US online publication, criticising government policy. As convenor of the non-official members of Exco, Leung is a member of Hong Kong's cabinet, which is the backbone of the administration. He chose this moment to attack the government, saying that its policy has failed to address worsening social problems, thus alienating the majority of the population. Leung's words have provided endless fodder for conspiracy theorists.
In the article, Leung said that 90 per cent of Hongkongers feel 'entirely disengaged from the world-leading financial services economy being challenged by Shanghai', and that most government polices have not benefited them.
Understandably, because of Leung's Exco role, his criticism has caused substantial damage to the governing authority of the chief executive and his government.
Leung is not a top official, but being an Exco convenor is equivalent to the role of the senior Exco member in pre-handover Hong Kong. The truth is that Leung has a history of challenging the administration. He has been vocal on social issues such as the minimum wage legislation. But, this time, he has not only embarrassed the government, his conduct has also breached the rule of collective responsibility for Exco members.
Exco is the highest policymaking body in Hong Kong. Its members have to keep all decisions confidential and must publicly support government policies. Now, Leung seems to have turned against the government by openly criticising its policies.