Hong Kong cabinet adviser disagrees with Lam on ‘separation of powers’ in textbooks, if only to show students why focusing on issue is ‘meaningless’
- Ronny Tong says leaving phrase in liberal studies textbooks will help society understand the concept applies only on a limited, local level
- Bar Association criticises Lam for saying the principle did not exist in Hong Kong, calling such remarks ‘inconsistent’ with the Basic Law
A Hong Kong cabinet adviser has argued against the controversial removal of the phrase “separation of powers” from descriptions of the city’s politics in textbooks, a day after the chief executive defended the change, if only so the public would better understand why it was “meaningless” to focus on the issue.
The professional body representing the city’s barristers also weighed in on the matter on Wednesday, rejecting the remarks by city leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and the education minister who said there was no separation of powers in Hong Kong. The Bar Association said such statements were “unfounded” and “inconsistent” with the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution.
Ronny Tong Ka-wah, a member of Lam’s Executive Council, earlier told a radio show he disagreed with the Education Bureau’s support for publishers that deleted the phrase “separation of powers”, along with other politically sensitive concepts, from coming editions of liberal studies textbooks.
“It is precisely because society has a lack of understanding [of this concept] … and many people might have the misconception that Hong Kong is a sovereign state and should therefore have separation of powers,” Tong said.
The debate over whether Hong Kong had true separation of powers was “meaningless”, Tong continued, stressing the discussion should focus on the separate functions of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government, rather than if they had “independent power”.