Hong Kong council appointees must show worth
- Described as ‘high-calibre patriots’ by Hong Kong’s leader, it remains to be seen whether they will improve district bodies
Following the conclusion of Sunday’s ballot, the government yesterday announced a batch of appointed councillors in the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle to complete the “patriots-only” district councils revamp.
Together with a new monitoring mechanism, it is to be hoped that the lower-tier structure will better serve the public.
Under the new system, 88 of 470 seats are directly elected by the public, while local committees return 176 members. Another 179 are hand-picked by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu. Rural committee leaders fill the 27 ex officio seats.
The appointees come from different sectors, including industrial, commercial, professional, labour and district groups.
School principals and teachers, lawyers, healthcare practitioners, social workers, engineering surveyors, accountants, and practitioners in insurance and financial services are represented.
There are also members from ethnic minority groups. Their median age is 47, with the youngest being 23 years old.
Describing them as “high-calibre patriots”, Lee said the appointments had taken into account factors such as district characteristics and connections.
He said the appointees had been enthusiastic about district affairs and he believed they could enhance the councils’ role in consulting and serving the community.
Hong Kong’s new district councils will be more ‘constructive’: John Lee
If previous experience is any guide, some appointees will be less dedicated and proactive than those elected. But there are also those who may supplement council work with their expertise.
Political appointees are essentially an oddity in election politics. Previous administrations, to their credit, phased out the colonial legacy of appointments.
The return of appointees as part of the district council revamp shows more time is needed to make Beijing feel comfortable with a fully elected district tier.
Lee said councillors would undergo “training class” and preparatory committees. There will also be a new monitoring and disciplinary mechanism, under which citizens may also play a role in monitoring and reflect their views to the councils. Whether the revamp can deliver better results as promised shall be closely watched.
