01 perspective
Written by: Comment Editor
2020-01-10 18:17
Last updated: 2020-01-10 18:18The China United Nations Office is Yi Shuai, and the new director, Luo Huining, has taken office and has become a big news that shocked the political circle at the beginning of the 2020 New Year. To many Hong Kong people, the word "Zhonglian Office" seems to be near and far, and its specific work and performance are full of mystery. For non-establishment factions, the impression of the "Zhonglian Office" is mostly negative, and it is even considered as a reflection of the central government's interference in the autonomy of the SAR. Even for the institutionalists, except for some politicians in the circle, many people don't know exactly what the "China United Nations Office" does. This is not ideal for an agency in Hong Kong that is responsible for connecting different stakeholders in Hong Kong society.
Someone joked that the contact number of the China United Nations Office was often not answered. It was also said that in mid-November, during the Sino-Central conflict, the Mainland asked the China United Nations Office to assist in the evacuation, and only received a response "inviting them to ask the police for help." Although the work of the China United Nations Office is not to answer telephone calls or assist international students, two small things reflect the mysterious image of the China United Nations Office in Hong Kong, which is inconsistent with its positioning of "liaison".
The Joint Office of the People's Republic of China stands for "The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region". As its name implies, its biggest function is to serve as a bridge between the central government and the SAR government. However, the China Liaison Office's "liaison" work in Hong Kong in recent years has been very unsatisfactory, especially the past two directors, Zhang Xiaoming and Wang Zhimin, who viewed the non-establishment factions with a struggle mindset, and were even regarded as "pull-ups" in the political circle. No effort was made to unite Hong Kong's forces and deepen social divisions.
China United Nations Office should not make enemies
The China Liaison Office is responsible for "liaison". Of course, it is not a general call or e-mail administrative work, but to allow the central government to have better communication with Hong Kong and maintain the relationship between Hong Kong's various sectors and stakeholders and the central government. It is the so-called "united front." United Front is to integrate groups and forces that can be integrated, reduce conflicts and differences, fight for common goals, and promote cooperation and unity. In the case of Hong Kong, the goal of the united front or liaison work is to support "one country, two systems", to allow the central government and Hong Kong to achieve a stable and win-win situation, and the more the target, the better. It should not be limited to only a few "patriotic and loving Hong Kong" formations. It should also try its best to jointly seek for common ground and make great differences with different stakeholders in the society such as the pan-democratic community to promote the development of Hong Kong.
In fact, most pan-democratic groups are only fighting for democracy, and they do not support the "Hong Kong independence" challenge of "one country, two systems". Just as Wang Guangya, the former director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, once said that the pan-democratic election to the Legislative Council and membership of the Legislative Council is also part of the system. In terms of political concepts in the Mainland, the relationship between the pan-democracy and the central government can at best be regarded as "internal contradictions among the people". Every effort should be made to contact and coordinate, rather than see "seeing contradiction between the enemy and ourselves" as absolute opposition. . However, the work of the former two directors of the China United Nations Affairs Office in this regard is really unsatisfactory.
When Zhang Xiaoming was in office, he regarded the government's opposition as an enemy and excluded him from the United Front. He then acted as "singer and reed" with the then chief executive Liang Zhenying. In the dispute over the political reform that year, although Zhang Xiaoming met with representatives of Panmin, but when Liang Yaozhong asked whether the Central People's Government allowed the Panmin people to stand for election, he responded that "you (Panmin people) can live and show the tolerance of the Central government." Although Zhang Xiaoming clarified afterwards, it was difficult to conceal the sense of arrogance and hostility reflected in this sentence. In addition, during the elections, the China United Nations Office often mobilized to help the establishment faction to help with the election, which vainly made the pan-democracy feel hostile by the central government. Zhang Xiaoming donated calligraphy and painting to the DAB auction twice in 2014 and 2016. As the director of the China Federation of Liaison Offices, he publicly supported the establishment system and set a bad example. The China United Nations Office's open support for some constituent parties in the election has produced the objective effect of the gang formation. As a result, the Pan-Democrats, which have been excluded, naturally have difficulty communicating with the central government.
Zhang Xiaoming often attended Heung Yee Kuk's activities. (Photo by Zhong Weide)
Useless intimacy is different
Wang Zhimin succeeded the director in 2017, and many of the pan-democracy's messages can change Zhang Xiaoming's practice of splitting Hong Kong. Looking back so far, although he has not been "out of office" like Zhang Xiaoming, he has not improved the united front work. For example, on December 4, last year, the "National Constitution Day" symposium supported by the China International Affairs Office publicly rejected Apple and position news, which also reflected the thinking of the enemy and ourselves of the China International Affairs Office. Especially in the Anti-Amendment Movement, Wang Zhimin did not reflect the people's sentiment in Hong Kong, let alone exchange with non-establishment factions, which eventually made the problem out of hand.
Even within the establishment faction, the China United Nations Office is different. Some constitutional factions are supported by the China United Nations Office when they run for elections, while others are not. It is an open secret. Another example is the People's Congress of the People's Congress of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The China Liaison Office has close relations with them and even has a recommendation list, but its selection criteria are doubtful. Even people in the establishment circle do not understand why some people with low visibility and insufficient social support can get "blessings". Since the role of the National People's Congress and the CPPCC is to collect public sentiment, reflect public opinion, and contact China and Hong Kong, the approach of the China United Nations Office has not only failed to help them do the important task of uniting most of them, but also detrimental to the healthy interaction and communication between China and Hong Kong.
The Liaison Office must attach the land
In addition to its work with the political circles, another major "liaison" target of the Joint Liaison Office should be the general public in Hong Kong, which truthfully reflects the public sentiment of all walks of life in Hong Kong. However, in the past, the China United Nations Office only knew to communicate with the formed political parties and the business sector. It rarely understood the people's sentiment. As a result, the liaison work was far away from the ground. The failure of the China United Nations Office to do a good job in the industry for a long time will only be detrimental to the implementation of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong.
Apple and stand journalists were rejected from the National Constitution Day forum. (Photo by Zhang Haowei)
Taking its regional branch as an example, it often only engages in "relationships" with local left-wing organizations, such as associations, to win votes. It is really questionable how helpful these jobs are to understanding the public. On the one hand, the Joint Liaison Office is likely to be out of touch with the community and wonder what Hong Kong people are thinking. On the other hand, it is also suspected of being "self-defeating Hong Kong people." For example, the official website of the China United Nations Office simply lists the internal structure, does not introduce the work of each structure, and the contact methods are very limited-its telephone exchange is more often complained that no one answered, or did not follow up after answering. This reflects that it does not intend to be open and transparent to let Hong Kong people understand the role and responsibilities of the Joint Liaison Office. Regardless of their political views, many Hong Kong people have no knowledge of the Central Office except that it is otherwise known as the "Western District." The China Liaison Office and the Hong Kong society do not communicate or know each other. Where does the exchange begin? How can it really reflect public opinion and make good contact?
With the central government's appointment of Luo Huining outside Hong Kong and Macao to Hong Kong, it is likely that Luo Huining will open a new situation for the China United Nations Office and bring new style. In her new role, Luo Huining said that Hong Kong should "return to the right track." In fact, the China United Nations Office must take the lead in self-reform and start with its most fundamental "liaison" work. If the reform is successful, he can not only prevent the internal tearing of Hong Kong, but also improve the communication and interaction between Hong Kong and the Mainland, and make the "one country, two systems" stable and far-reaching.
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