The only candidate for the chief executive election, Li Jiachao's platform, has finally been released, covering four major areas, including land and housing, and improving government governance.
However, the development of the political system, which has always been a must-answer for candidates for the chief executive, has not been mentioned in Li Jiachao's platform, and the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law will continue to be implemented.
As for whether to stay in the district council, Li Jiachao did not touch it, but proposed to set up 18 district service teams.
Li Jiachao.
(Photo by Zhang Haowei)
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Li Jiachao said that the length of the political platform is limited, and not mentioning it does not mean that he does not pay attention, but from Li Jiachao's political platform, it can be seen that he focuses on issues such as housing and economic development.
In the past chief executive elections, the development of political reform was a must-answer question for candidates. In the 2012 chief executive election, Leung Chun-ying mentioned political development in three paragraphs of his platform, promising to win the central and legislative council members in accordance with the Basic Law and the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Support the implementation of the 2017 universal suffrage for the chief executive in accordance with the "five-step" procedure; in 2017, Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's platform also mentioned political reform in two paragraphs, saying that it is necessary to review the situation and build a consensus. A social atmosphere conducive to promoting political reform.
However, Li Jiachao's political platform did not mention any political reform, which is obviously not a key task of the new government.
After the Legislative Council election in December last year, the State Council Information Office released a white paper titled "Democratic Development in Hong Kong under "One Country, Two Systems", stating that the central government will continue to develop and improve in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law and the decisions of the National People's Congress and the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. A democratic system that conforms to the actual situation in Hong Kong will eventually realize that the Chief Executive and all members of the Legislative Council will be elected by universal suffrage.
After improving the electoral system and implementing "patriots ruling Hong Kong", the "anti-China forces that disrupt Hong Kong" as mentioned in the white paper are no longer able to enter the governance structure and are incapable of hindering the development of democracy, but this time the platform does not mention how to develop the political system .
Earlier, Synopsys invited Li Jiachao to attend a political research conference, but Li did not agree.
Voting results in the 2019 district council elections.
(File photo/Photo by Lu Yiming)
The lack of public opinion representation in the district council for a long time is not ideal
The second issue not mentioned is district council reform.
Since the resignation of district councilors, only about 150 district councillors are still in office in more than 450 constituencies in Hong Kong, and the sequelae have emerged one after another. After arrangements are made, the materials will be distributed by regional organizations and associations.
Li Jiachao's political platform proposed to strengthen cooperation with regional organizations, set up regional service and care teams in the 18 districts, and set up a systematic volunteer network to support the government's regional work during disasters.
Although regional cooperation can be strengthened in this regard, the district councils, as representatives of public opinion, are a platform for communication between the government and the public, and it is difficult to be completely replaced by volunteer district teams.
The means are softened, but the social tear needs to be repaired
The third untouched issue is mending social rifts.
After the turmoil of the amendment bill in 2019, the society was severely torn apart, and many people hope that the society will reconcile and start anew.
Li Jiachao, who was considered a hardliner in the past because of his background in the police force, has also deliberately softened his posture since he ran for election, showing a gesture of communicating with the people, and his political platform, as expected, has less focus on national security, only mentioning the "Basic Law"23 Article legislation.
I still remember that at the beginning of her candidacy, Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor emphasized the need to repair the tear, and was mocked by her opponent Tsang Junhua as "Tear 2.0", but unfortunately she was right.
Li Jiachao has emphasized many times to solve problems with team spirit, but the social internal friction is constantly and people's hearts have not returned. In addition to uniting the electors, Li Jiachao must unite the whole society.
Guan Haoming.
(Photo by Lu Yiming)
Guan Haoming: You can give Li Jiachao time to deal with it
Guan Haoming, a member of the Legislative Assembly and Secretary-General of the Anglican Church, has always advocated social reconciliation. Regarding Li Jiachao's failure to repair social tears, Guan Haoming believes that social reconciliation must have a foundation. The problem, and then there is an entry point, at this stage, Li Jiachao should be given time first.
Liu Zhaojia expects no major political reforms in a short period of time
Liu Zhaojia, vice-chairman of the National Association for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, has another view.
He said that the above three major issues depend on whether it can be done and whether it is appropriate to do it. For example, the political reform has been advancing all the time, and improving the electoral system is the key point. After making such a big change, I believe the central government needs time to consolidate and implement it. Another major change.
Liu Zhaojia said that at present, the central government wants to strengthen patriotic forces, and district councils are not the focus. It is more important to strengthen regional organizations and establish regional networks. It is to use this space to cultivate and strengthen patriotic forces. Therefore, neither political reform nor district councils want to become A tool for a new wave of political conflict and struggle.
Liu Zhaojia further said that Article 97 of the Basic Law only stipulates that non-regime regional organizations can be established, and cannot stipulate the establishment of district councils. It can be seen that the Basic Law empowers the SAR government to design regional administrative tools to serve the SAR government.
Liu Zhaojia.
(File photo/Photo by Ou Jiale)
Liu Zhaojia: Political tears cannot be repaired, only struggle to the end
As for the social tear, Liu Zhaojia pointed out that there are two levels. The first level is the social and economic tear, including the disparity between the rich and the poor, housing and land issues, and youth development opportunities. Also mentioned.
However, Liu Zhaojia believes that the political tear cannot be repaired because it stems from the basic stance of different political forces towards the Chinese Communist Party.
He said that from the perspective of the central government, the anti-China chaotic elements in Hong Kong should have no room for activities, and they should give up and adjust their political positions. If these people insist on their positions, they will be suppressed, describing it as a life-and-death struggle that cannot be compromised.
However, Liu Zhaojia said that the central government is also waiting for the moderate opposition to transform into reformers in the patriotic camp, but it cannot advance political reform at this stage, because political reform means that restrictions may be relaxed.
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