Hong Kong leaders must stand up for city's best interests in political reform
Frank Ching says our leaders should have the courage to consider all views on political reform, and fight for what's best for the city
With the five-month public consultation on political reform only in its second month, there is a serious danger that, instead of resolving problems over universal suffrage elections for the chief executive, it will lead Hong Kong into a political dead end from which it will be almost impossible to emerge.
While the government says it is willing to listen to all views, it also says that views should be consistent with the Basic Law and the interpretations and decisions of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.
Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung has called for proposals that would not undermine the power of the nominating committee.
By telling the public what kind of proposals to submit, the government is already deciding in advance the outcome of the consultation.
If it is really willing to listen to the public, the government should be prepared to hear proposals that may require amending the Basic Law. If there was a clear consensus for a specific amendment, the chief executive would have a duty to say so in his report to the Standing Committee and, indeed, to provide his personal assessment of such a proposal.
The government needs to be bold and creative in going about the consultation. Instead of soliciting views that it thinks the central government will find acceptable, it should do what is best for Hong Kong.
Almost 17 years after the handover, the government should know that there is a need to change the current system. Continuing with it is to lead Hong Kong into a dead end.