Why would Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen engage Audrey Eu Yuet-mee in a televised debate on constitutional reform, giving a platform to a leader of a movement he says has been forsaken by public opinion while putting his own credibility on the line?
That is the question in political circles after Tsang issued the invitation to the Civic Party chairwoman and spokeswoman for the campaign to make last Sunday's by-elections a 'de facto referendum' on reform.
The invitation, which Tsang said was 'to allow the public to better understand the arguments for and against' the government's reform proposals, was swiftly accepted by Eu, a barrister, who said she welcomed the challenge.
Tsang took part in a televised debate in 2007 with the Civic Party's challenger to his re-election, Alan Leong Kah-kit. But it will be the first time a serving chief executive or colonial governor has personally faced an opposition leader in a televised debate.
No matter whether one takes the view that Tsang believes he can convince the public to back the government's proposal, or agrees with those who see it as a plot to further split the pan-democratic camp and secure votes for the reform proposals, one thing is clear: it is a daring move, with his credibility at stake.
The Democratic Party, upset at being left out of the debate, warned Tsang not to assume that because it was in separate negotiations with the government it would back the reform proposals, which the pan-democrats can veto if they all vote together.
