OpinionPaul Chan: Finally, Carrie Lam’s government has someone who will level with the public
- Paul Chan successfully lowered Hongkongers’ expectations for the 2019-2020 budget and, most unusually for this government, has showed the ability to apologise sincerely
He has kept the message – “expect fewer sweeteners” – going, letting us know that the ridiculously large annual budget surplus this city has grown to accept as common will not be so this year. The public has, as a result, come to expect less, and yes, we have even come to expect a low public satisfactory rating.
He also made sure that no one expects him to be a crowd-pleaser, not because he doesn’t want to be, but because of limited resources. This seems to be something he had learned on the job as, when he first came on, he promised budget surpluses to benefit all Hongkongers, something that didn’t earn him any applause when he rolled out his first budget. He has since smartened up, and that is refreshing to see in this government.
And this expressed willingness to take the rap for limited resources – something he can’t do anything about – and noting that many will not be pleased has achieved a politically sophisticated Houdini stunt: making sure that the public sees he is straitjacketed, yet escaping blame.
Early on, Chan inserted a careful disclaimer into his blog about his role as financial secretary, noting that his budget would not make major adjustments or introduce social policies. He made sure the public knew that this lies squarely with his boss, the chief executive.