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Alex Lo
SCMP Columnist
My Take
by Alex Lo
My Take
by Alex Lo

Will the chief executive become no more than a mayor?

  • If the HKSAR becomes more and more like a mere city, the powers and prerogatives of its leader must reflect such a development

A recent speech given by former Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying has caused some controversy. He was commenting on Beijing’s prerogative in choosing candidates for election to be the city’s chief executive. But what is equally intriguing, though less debated, is whether the post-1997 powers of the chief executive still hold constitutionally. This is especially so in light of Beijing imposing top-down changes to the city’s political system.

In the speech, Leung said: “If Hong Kong residents wanted to emulate their London counterparts, the people of London, in voting in their city leader, Beijing could happily agree tomorrow, provided the Hong Kong chief executive had the same limited powers as the London mayor.

Hongkongers who challenge Beijing’s authority are separatists, says CY Leung

“So we as the people of Hong Kong cannot have our cake and eat it, casting Beijing to one side in the process of selecting the CE and at the same time insisting on giving the CE much more powers than those of the London mayor.”

That’s fascinating to me. First of all, if Hong Kong people collectively agree to downgrade their Special Administrative Region (SAR) to no more than a city or a municipality, would Beijing allow “one person one vote” for the chief executive/mayor? No doubt Leung has more insight into this question than me.

The chief executive is not a mayor because Hong Kong is not just a city, but an SAR. We have our own currency, borders and passports, legal and tax systems, and fiscal and budgetary independence; and separate membership in the World Trade Organization and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec). We are also a full signatory to myriad global treaties and regulatory regimes.

Former Hong Kong leader defends call to choose chief executive by consultation

For much of the SAR’s existence, it has been functioning like a quasi-city state. The powers and prerogatives of the chief executive have reflected that. But that may also have given the wrong impression to some young people that their city could become independent, as they fail to realise the political basis of the HKSAR. What the central government gives, it can easily take away. On this point, Leung is absolutely right.

But is it true, as he has implied, that the CE still gets to keep all the powers of the office henceforth? Will we instead more likely see in the years ahead fundamental changes to the SAR status of Hong Kong and therefore the powers and prerogatives of the CE’s office? I think we know the answer.

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