LettersA Singapore guide for Hong Kong on nurturing political talent

Name: Chinese premier addresses Hong Kong electoral changes, US-China relations, as ‘two sessions’ closes
Uploaded: 2021-03-27T22:40:05.000Z
Duration: 5 min 13 s
Description: Chinese premier addresses Hong Kong electoral changes, US-China relations, as ‘two sessions’ closes

With the patriotism of Hong Kong’s political and governing class coming into focus, a mainland scholar has said the city doesn’t need ‘loyal garbage’

Singapore’s founding prime minister’s approach could offer a useful template for cultivating public servants

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Singapore’s first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew paid great attention to succession planning for both his political party and the government. Photo: AFP/George Gascon/ The Straits Times

Letters

Published: 6:40am, 28 Mar 2021Updated: 6:40am, 28 Mar 2021

With the National People’s Congress on March 11 approving a resolution on improving Hong Kong’s electoral system, the “patriots governing Hong Kong” formula now has legal and institutional recognition.

The expression represents the nation’s heightened expectations of local politicians and the tightened requirements of patriots. To govern Hong Kong well, politicians and government officials must not be “rubber stamps” or “loyal garbage”, as mainland scholar Tian Feilong has remarked.

The crux of problem is: who is an outstanding or at least a qualified and eligible official? To look for political talent, the former prime minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew made reference to oil company Shell’s criteria. The “helicopter qualities” that Shell stressed included the ability to offer a bird’s-eye view of a problem. Lee saw this as important for leaders in the People’s Action Party.

Lee identified the possession of high-quality education and skills as the threshold for beginning a political career. One should then, through contesting elections, showcase that one has the knowledge and talent to serve the community and to enter the cabinet. Policy implementation and being responsive to the will of the people are compulsory requirements for those aspiring to be political figures.

05:13

Chinese premier addresses Hong Kong electoral changes, US-China relations, as ‘two sessions’ closes

In Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s team in Hong Kong, nine secretaries are former civil servants. The financial secretary was a lawmaker, and five other secretaries came from different professions. Their educational background and professional qualifications are beyond dispute.