Reform process forges strange bedfellows
They were once denounced as anti-Beijing. Ministers branded them the opposition. But the Democrats now make an odd couple with Donald Tsang Yam-kuen as the reform drama grand finale approaches. While the leading pro-democracy party is now being showered with criticism by long-time allies for selling out Hong Kong's democracy, the Chief Executive's Office made a rare move to defend what was once an arch-rival. 'On electoral arrangements beyond 2012, we understand that the Democratic Party has not abandoned its stance and principles, including those on the abolition of functional constituencies and the implementation of universal suffrage for CE and Legco,' office director Raymond Tam Chi-yuen said. A friend in need or the kiss of death?
'Act Now' pin gives Donald a prick
Donald Tsang is very attached to his 'Act Now' pin - so much so that he wore it to a funeral. Arriving late for the memorial service of Archibald Chan Tai-wing, husband of former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang, the chief executive raised some eyebrows as he made his entrance sporting the blue-and-red badge on his chest in front of 700 mourners in the Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Mid-Levels. He didn't win many converts to his cause if the reaction of one mourner was any indication. 'This was insulting to Anson, a lack of respect to Archie and indicated that he does not know how a gentleman should behave,' a former colleague of Anson Chan told Political Animal. 'To make a political show at a memorial service was outrageous. [Chief Secretary] Henry Tang [Ying-yen] came and left, but he wore no badge,' he said. You dropped your anchor a bit there, Donald.
What par is this hole?
Universal suffrage, as Anthony Wu Ting-yuk likes to say, is like a game of golf. Keep hitting the ball towards the hole and eventually it will fall into the cup. But a hole in one is difficult and extremely rare. That was the advice from his golf instructor, who told Wu to focus on playing the game one stroke at a time instead of chasing after that one shot. Obviously universal suffrage will not be a hole in one but Wu, the new chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, said political reform proposals from the Democratic Party were an important step and he believed there was support in the business community. Hong Kong people were rational and reasonable and there was room for the peaceful expression of different views, he said.
