[01 Weekly Editorial] Hong Kong needs to see the dawn of reform as soon as possible

Although the new crown epidemic in Hong Kong has gradually declined, the cumulative number of deaths has exceeded 7,000.

After this battle, Hong Kong's vitality has been greatly damaged, many couples have lost their lives, commercial restaurants have no choice but to close down, and ordinary citizens have stopped talking. Their disappointment and anger towards the government have long been irrelevant to their political stance.

Even if the fifth wave of the epidemic is expected to end and the government has laid out a roadmap for society to return to normal, Hong Kong people do not feel much hope for the road ahead.

At this time of despair, the nomination period for the election of the chief executive will start next Sunday. The new chief executive will be born in more than a month. We hope that the new government can unite its efforts and not only lead the Hong Kong society to come out of the epidemic, but also adhere to the people of Hong Kong. Common interests, promote comprehensive reform, build a positive "one country, two systems", and consolidate a high degree of autonomy.

In fact, if not for the fifth wave of the epidemic, this Sunday (27th) would have been the big day for the election of the sixth chief executive.

After years of tossing and turning, coupled with the central government's strong domination of the Legislative Council election, it is estimated that until the central government has a clearer direction, not many people will automatically apply for the post of chief executive.

We believe that the central government would like to see Hong Kong start reforming at an early date, rather than let the desolation and torment of the past few years continue for one more day.

The Central Committee can take the initiative to encourage those patriots who "have feelings, patterns, responsibilities, skills, and achievements" to rise to the challenge, participate in the preparation of a new government, and overcome the social tear and unstable people as soon as possible. Page.

Reform is the collective consciousness that Hong Kong needs most and lacks the most.

(Associated Press)

Reform is the only agenda in Hong Kong

"Reform" is the key word of "Hong Kong 01", the core of our initiative, and the collective consciousness that we think Hong Kong needs most and lacks the most.

There will be no progress without reform.

In fact, every society at all times, at home and abroad, faced the same struggle between conservative and progressive, from the Whigs and Tories in Britain, the Left and the Right in the French Revolution to the struggle between the Reformists and the Revolutionaries in China in the late Qing Dynasty. The tension between seeking change while maintaining stability and drastic change.

The most radical manifestation of progressivism is revolution, but it is also dangerous. Some people use the name of "revolution" to betray the truth. It is the wrong path of Hong Kong that we firmly deny.

But that doesn't mean Hong Kong doesn't need a drastic reform.

It is precisely because of the lack of reform in Hong Kong, the perpetuation of an unfair economic structure, the lack of social mobility, and the sharp contradiction between vested interests and vulnerable groups that a generation of young people will be led astray.

The later the radical reform happens, the restlessness will only increase, and the contradictions will explode because of a bill or an epidemic.

Hong Kong people love to mention the colonial governor, MacLehose, who changed Hong Kong from the social conflicts and riots of the 1960s through comprehensive reforms such as building public housing, developing new towns, and establishing the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

In 1978, Deng Xiaoping denied the two things and proposed "emancipate the mind and seek truth from facts", which fundamentally reversed China's development trajectory.

Any comprehensive reform must have urgent needs of the times, but it also needs a reformer who can emancipate the mind and be determined to correct deviations in order to carry out and even implement it to the end.

Whether it is a colonial city or a vast power, whether it is the West or the East, reformers are also needed to break the vicious circle and get out of the trajectory of problems.

As a media advocating reform and emancipating our minds, we have expressed such expectations in the 2017 chief executive election. Unfortunately, this government has made the reform unsuccessful.

The housing reforms that were due after the 2018 Land Debate came to nothing, and promises such as MPF hedging and standard working hours legislation did not come to fruition.

We thought that reforming the society, caring for the disadvantaged, and striving for the citizens to live and work in peace and contentment were no-nonsense political concepts, and they were the principles and sentiments that officials must have, but the facts proved that we were wrong.

If it weren't for the central government's final strong shot, I wonder how much the epidemic would hurt Hong Kong?

(Associated Press)

Only by turning the blade inward can the governance capacity be reconstructed

By the time the fifth wave of the epidemic broke out, the testing capacity had not kept up with the actual needs. The Labour and Welfare Bureau had not formulated an effective plan for residential care homes for the elderly, and the Food and Health Bureau had allowed the public hospitals to be overloaded and patients to sleep in the street.

After all, isn't this because the government does not respect the lives and health of the vulnerable groups enough, and does not get rid of bureaucracy as soon as possible, so that the people are anxious?

If it weren't for the central government's last strong move, I don't know how much the epidemic will hurt Hong Kong, and how much negative impact the mainland will suffer because of the spillover of the epidemic in Hong Kong.

The government not only has no courage to reform Hong Kong society, but also has no awareness of turning inward and self-reforming.

As a result, the deep-seated structural contradictions have continued to worsen along the track of the past, and even the foundation of "one country, two systems", the foundation of Hong Kong, has been challenged as never before, which in turn has deepened the governance difficulties of the SAR government.

When the central government tried to stabilize the overall situation of Hong Kong again and again, the original intentions of "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and "a high degree of autonomy" were considered to have not been brought into full play.

We often say that "fifty years" is a false proposition. As long as "one country, two systems" works well, "fifty years" will remain unchanged.

But this principle also means that in order to ensure that "one country, two systems" remains unchanged, the governance of the Hong Kong government must first be changed.

If the Hong Kong government lacks inward-looking reforms, deep-seated structural contradictions may explode in other forms, for various reasons, on any given day.

Those who extravagantly think that Hong Kong can still "hold" are only leading the city into a vicious circle of disorder.

Hong Kong needs a new leader with a sense of reform and the ability to reform, who can step up and take over the hot potato.

What the current government has to do is to ensure that the fifth wave of the epidemic ends as scheduled, and not to hinder the change of government.

(Associated Press)

2022 will be a watershed for Hong Kong

There is no doubt that today, when the fifth wave of the epidemic has not yet ended, it is not easy for anyone to announce their candidacy for the chief executive or announce the blueprint for reform.

The Chief Executive has been asked many times in recent days whether he will be re-elected, and he has repeatedly reiterated that he is only focusing on the anti-epidemic work at the moment, and will not respond to this question.

However, as the fifth wave of the epidemic is gradually receding, the government also announced last week a roadmap for Hong Kong to return to normal in three stages. The nomination period for the election of the chief executive is expected to start next Sunday as scheduled. avoidable topic.

What's more, when there are many opinions in the political circle, there is no leader, and the society is full of anxiety, starting a discussion on how the next government should reform is just to give the society hope and see the dawn.

As we all know, July 1 this year will be the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. Not only the SAR government will hold the event, but I believe the central government will also attach great importance to it.

But to make this day more meaningful, it should symbolize a change in the stage of Hong Kong's review of experience and a new start.

In historical development, some years often have a watershed, just like 1978 was for China and 1989 was for Europe, 2022 will definitely have a different meaning for Hong Kong.

The birth of a new chief executive and a new government, and the reorganization of "one country, two systems" will also make Hong Kongers who have been sober at this moment look forward to July 1 again.

As for what the current government has to do, it is to ensure that the fifth wave of the epidemic ends as scheduled and not to hinder the government's transition.

Even though we do not agree with many anti-epidemic policies, the Chief Executive has made her choice after all. Now, we must do our current duty and focus on anti-epidemic and anti-epidemic measures to ensure that vaccination, medical beds, drug supply and other measures are in place. and compliance.

If the fifth wave of the epidemic can end in the remaining three months of the current government's term, and if an effective medium- and long-term defense mechanism can be established, it is estimated that everyone will feel that this is a great blessing in misfortune.

Please pay attention to the 310th issue of "Hong Kong 01" e-Weekly Newsletter published on March 28, 2022.

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