Leung Chun-ying, reach out and meet the Hong Kong students

Our chief executive is under siege. Hundreds of students have rallied outside Leung Chun-ying's office in Tamar and his Upper Albert Road residence. The crowds will only get bigger and louder as Occupy Central proceeds with its plans in the business district. It's shaping into a "get-rid-of-CY" moment.

In such situations, it's human to want to hide, or at least only appear in carefully choreographed events. But you are a leader. While we may not have a Tiananmen moment, we do face a constitutional crisis. This is what you are paid to do: resolve crises and take us forward.

You are also a parent. You must first assure the students of their safety. Do it for their parents. You must then meet the students. Invite their leaders to the government headquarters. If they insist it must be an open meeting, open all the doors for all the students to come in. If they insist you must go out to them, as they did this week, go out and meet them. Tell them your doors are open. This is because you, CY, have a case to answer, but it is an eminently defensible one.

You must explain to the youngsters that the central government will not change its mind on the city's democratic reform, but this doesn't mean the situation is not salvageable. By giving the vote to a five-million-strong electorate, even a "Beijing stooge" still has to answer to the voters. By holding a general election, it paves the way to reforming the legislature. If not, there will be no reform and no changes: it's back to square one.

Everyone is prejudging an election system that does not exist. We must not underestimate the profound change in political culture when candidates, however chosen, must run from district to district and meet people in the streets to convince them they are worthy of their votes. And while the "love Hong Kong, love China" stricture may sound severe, Beijing has made it clear you don't need to love the party, only not oppose it. The message is clear: pan-democrats who stick to Hong Kong issues can run as candidates.

What if the students beat you up? Well, if blood runs down your forehead, you will have won the public relations war, and delegitimised the student movement. Either way, it's far better than hiding in your office.