Alex Lo

My Take | How to engineer a loyal opposition

New opponents, critical of the Hong Kong government but loyal to Beijing, are emerging but will they appeal to local voters?

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Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen. Photo: Felix Wong

Alex Lo

Published: 8:54pm, 1 Jan 2021Updated: 10:38pm, 1 Jan 2021

It may sound like an oxymoron but what Beijing wants is a “loyal” opposition in Hong Kong, rather than not having an opposition at all. Since the introduction of the national security law, though, the crackdown has been too effective, perhaps even an overkill.

The traditional pan-democratic camp has been neutered, even if the obvious target of Beijing’s wrath has been the more extreme elements of the localist anti-government protest movement.

Now, to prepare for the delayed Legislative Council election, presumably in September, Beijing needs to build up a viable alternative opposition, one that can be critical of the Hong Kong government and yet be trusted to operate within bounds. That may be why there has been, all of a sudden, a concerted series of harsh criticisms of the local government, directed especially at Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and several top bureau secretaries, by some of the “bluest” patriotic public figures.

Of course, it may also be the start of a move to ease the hugely unpopular Lam out of her job, something that should not surprise her.

New blood is needed in the legislature. Traditional loyalists such as Abraham Razack and Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung are too sycophantic. They may be good for appointment to public bodies and functional seats for professional and business sectors in Legco, but not for directly elected seats where they must face voters.