CY Leung's work report applaudable
Updated: 2013-07-06 07:04
By Carrie Chan(HK Edition)
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Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has set a good example by delivering a 28-page work report for Hong Kong people to evaluate his administration's performance in its first year in office.
It's only fair and proper for him to set a precedent as the city's first Chief Executive to come up with such a report on what his government has accomplished as well as the thorny issues that have confronted the administration. It has been an eventful year for Leung and his team. Besides the constant bickering from the opposition camp, social problems have taken the front seat as well, including growing discontent over soaring home prices and speculation, the row over baby milk powder and parallel traders from the mainland, the issue of multiple entry permits for Shenzhen residents, and the scare over the H7N9 virus.
In the first three months, Leung and some members of his team had been ruffled by personal controversies and scandals. It was a rough start. However, some of his ministers reckon that, on the contrary, the hiccups have made the team more united and deepened their understanding of public demands on them.
The fuss over the implementation of national education died down after Leung agreed to listen to the community's grievances. Then, lately, there was this ruckus over the landfill extension at Tseung Kwan O. Leung's team again made great efforts in appealing for rationale to allow the entire community to shoulder the responsibility in resolving the problem.
Leung has proven himself to be dedicated, pragmatic and receptive in dealing with all these issues. The HKSAR government was reluctant to admit, define and measure the magnitude of the poverty gap, but the Chief Executive vowed to alleviate the hardships of the masses, commissioning a taskforce to define the poverty line - a move that has won acclaim from social and political leaders.
In fighting for funding to implement the new Old Age Living Allowance for senior citizens, Leung's team had endured setbacks but eventually succeeded in getting it off the ground.
Leung is viewed as a genuinely liberal-minded and receptive leader in securing diverse views from the community. Much time has been spent on lengthy and sometimes heated closed-door discussions among government secretaries and non-official top advisers. It takes time to come up with viable solutions to the city's problems and setbacks are inevitable along the way.
Another distinct feature of Leung's style of governance is his speed in making difficult, resolute decisions, taking prompt action and initiating public communication. He has got his priorities right, notably, in coming to grips with Hong Kong's acute housing woes by speeding up construction and creating bigger land reserves. His bold decision to check property speculation may have drawn fierce criticisms and opposition from powerful developers. However, if he were to have bowed to pressure, skyrocketing property prices would have jeopardized our economy. And, he takes pride in rejecting charges of collision between the government and businesses and developers.
As for closer economic integration with the mainland, which has undoubtedly brought enormous benefits to the HKSAR, Leung has acted in a way that has avoided riling Hongkongers by promptly suspending multiple-entry permits for residents who do not have permanent residency permits in Shenzhen. He diffused the "time bomb" tactfully by setting up a taskforce to examine its impact and by lobbying Beijing to cushion off any possible backlash.
One "hot potato" that was thrust onto Hong Kong has been the sensitive Edward Snowden drama - a case that finally ended here after the government acted according to all appropriate legal procedures and the rule of law under the concept of "One Country, Two Systems". The conclusion of the drama has won kudos from all fronts.
Hong Kong people are always peace loving and friendly, and are not keen on war of words. But the Snowden affair has eroded our trust and confidence in the US government by its massive, unauthorized hacking and surveillance of Hong Kong's vital communication networks. We are delighted to see Leung stand up to defend our legitimate rights on information and communication privacy protection. The SAR government should continue to seek an official explanation and apology from Washington for infringing upon our privacy over the past few years.
The author is a current affairs commentator.
(HK Edition 07/06/2013 page6)