Just SayingWhy no one really has what it takes to become Hong Kong’s next leader
Yonden Lhatoo argues that the job of the city’s next chief executive will be so demanding that all the big names being floated so far may not be up to the task
One of those unforgettable moments in Hollywood history is the scene in the 1990s dark comedy, Addams Family Values, when the perpetually morose Wednesday Addams makes a supreme effort to crack a smile for everyone’s benefit at summer camp. A very young Christina Ricci plays the role to perfection, appearing to force every facial muscle into unfamiliar contractions to produce something so fraudulently sincere that it ends up terrifying everyone. It’s brilliant.
It also makes me think about Hong Kong’s looming leadership election, and the relevance of something as elementary and natural as the act of smiling in what will be a very difficult battle for hearts and minds, as clichéd as it sounds.
When I sat down with her for a chat last week, she came across as a sincere and deeply motivated contender, proposing a basket of practical and concrete solutions to some of Hong Kong’s most pressing problems. But when discussing the importance of popularity and the need to make an emotional connection with the public, “playing nice” took a back seat to her trademark tough talk.
Watch: Regina Ip takes questions on her leadership bid
“I don’t think we should turn an election of such importance into a smiling contest,” she said.
‘Clash of tai-tais’ expected in Hong Kong leadership contest
