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Alex Lo

Two local political heavyweights have been generating so many news headlines in recent weeks you wonder if they may be jockeying to be chief executive next year.
Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee and Leung Chun-ying have made radical proposals that would have been unthinkable before the introduction of the national security law in the summer.
Lawmaker, cabinet member and chairwoman of the New People’s Party, Ip has suggested enforcing the mainland’s ban on dual nationality in Hong Kong.
Leung, the former chief executive, is even more extreme, as he has proposed cancelling the election for the top job.
It looks like the two are competing to see who can be a better leftist in Beijing’s eyes. So much for political moderation! It’s probable that Ip, having tried but failed to be a chief executive candidate in the last election in 2017, still harbours the ambition.
Leung, believing he was stymied not only by the pan-democratic opposition but also the powerful business lobby while he was chief executive, may want to stage a comeback to finish the job.
Certainly, Leung would be unelectable even by the “democratic” process of the 1,200-member chief executive Election Committee; he had no political base to depend on but made enemies left and right while in office.
Maybe I am just being a cynical hack, imagining hidden agendas where there are none. Ip’s proposal is not only possible but likely. As Britain starts accepting applications from BN(O) passport holders that could lead to citizenship, Beijing is certain to take retaliatory action.
“It may be time for the Chinese government to end its special treatment of Hong Kong Chinese for historical reasons, and enforce its nationality law to disallow dual nationality,” she wrote in this newspaper.
The idea of banning dual nationality has some support within local pro-Beijing circles. It will likely have a cut-off date so those who already hold a foreign passport will not be affected.
Meanwhile, writing on Facebook, Leung warns against “a puppet” controlled by the United States becoming chief executive. That seems far-fetched, given the way any candidate not to Beijing’s liking may simply be disqualified at the outset.
The winning candidate also has to be formally appointed by the central government.
Beijing clearly prefers to have an election for the chief executive so long as it can control the choice of candidates. With the national security law, it has even more power to do so.


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My Take

It’s no joke: ban dual nationality and cancel chief executive election

Lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee speaks to the press at the Legislative Council Complex, Tamar. photo: May Tse

Hong Kong lawmakers call on city’s leader to do more in coronavirus fight and help struggling residents at hearing on policy address

Chief Executive Carrie Lam gives her policy address at the Legislative Council last November. Photo: Felix Wong

A number of retail shops in Tsim Sha Tsui East have closed down amid the Covid-19 pandemic.17JAN21 SCMP / Felix Wong

Lawmaker Starry Lee Wai-king (Left second) and DAB's Lawmakers meet the media after Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announces policy address at the Legco Chamber in Tamar.  25NOV20 SCMP / Felix Wong

People queue up for Covid-19 testing at mobile testing point at Maple Street Playground in Sham Shui Po. 20JAN21 SCMP/ Winson Wong

Carrie Lam defends value of election process for Hong Kong’s chief executive post as Beijing mulls drastic overhaul of system

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam meets the press ahead of her Executive Council meeting on Tuesday. Photo: May Tse

The ballot papers are on the table in the counting hall. Candidates Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Woo Kwok-hing and an officer of John Tsang Chun-wah's campaign office are monitor of the counting process at The Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre in Wan Chai. 26MAR17 SCMP / Sam Tsang

Former Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying at Office of Former Chief Executives, Mid-Levels.   05OCT20     SCMP / Nora Tam

A picture shows (right)British National (Overseas) passport / BNO passport, and (left)HKSAR passport. 12NOV18 SCMP / Fung Chang

Opinion


Radical proposals may put Regina Ip and Leung Chun-ying in race to be Hong Kong’s next leader



Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}My Take | It’s no joke: ban dual nationality and cancel chief executive election

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Radical proposals may put Regina Ip and Leung Chun-ying in race to be Hong Kong’s next leader

My Take | It’s no joke: ban dual nationality and cancel chief executive election

Radical proposals may put Regina Ip and Leung Chun-ying in race to be Hong Kong’s next leader