James Tien's call on CY Leung to resign shows there's room for dissent
Urging the chief executive to resign is nothing unusual in a free society like Hong Kong. But when the call comes from a prominent pro-Beijing business leader in unsettling times, speculation inevitably follows. That explains why Liberal Party chief James Tien Pei-chun was swiftly expelled from the nation's top political advisory body just for asking Leung Chun-ying to think about resigning.
The move goes beyond disciplining a rebel for not toeing the official line to give Leung full support. It gives the clearest signal yet that Beijing does not want anyone to rock the boat during critical times.
For those who are used to Hong Kong's freedom of speech, the removal may look harsh. Tien, after all, was merely making a suggestion in light of the difficulties facing Leung. Compared to those who mount pressure through waves of street protests, Tien's remarks were relatively mild. But the truth is that he was also a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which is primarily a united front body. Even though Tien stopped short of taking any action, the remarks were considered a breach of a resolution requiring members to rally behind the Hong Kong leader.
Tien has long been the black sheep in the patriotic camp. In 2003 he forced the government to shelve contentious national security legislation after quitting the Executive Council after 500,000 marched in protest on July 1. The tycoon made no bones about his dislike for Leung, who defeated his long-time ally Henry Tang Ying-yen in the chief executive race two years ago. He had already made a similar call for Leung to resign during a Legco question time this year.
The sanction has understandably aroused concerns about its chilling effect. Whether other appointees will be gagged is yet to be seen. If the intention is to suppress dissenting views, it appears to have done the opposite. As soon as the CPPCC voted to rescind his membership, Tien called a press conference, during which he stood by his call for Leung to consider stepping down. He went further to suggest Leung meet the street protesters, and said he might throw his weight behind the chief executive if he did so.
That Tien remains as vocal as ever shows there is still room for different views outside the system. He quit the Liberal Party helm so that he can speak his mind freely. Under "one country, two systems", dissenting voice will continue to be heard.
