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Heavyweight Beijing adviser urges Hong Kong to reject negative ways
Peter Woo laments city’s hampered progress over the years and urges shake-up of political appointments system
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Business and political heavyweight Peter Woo Kwong-ching said Hong Kong must realise what was in its interests and reject the “negative and passive monitoring” of government that had hindered progress in recent years.
Woo, former chairman of property giants Wheelock and Wharf Holdings, also said there was plenty to do in terms of social and economic development as he expressed confidence in incoming chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor. He supported Lam’s election bid earlier this year as donor, nominator and senior adviser.
Woo, 71, proposed the city should groom political talents and reform the appointments system to make it more attractive for civil servants or business elites to join as ministers.
He was defeated in 1996 in the election for the first post-colonial chief executive, and is currently a Standing Committee member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the top national advisory body.
Reflecting on the implementation of the “one country, two systems” formula since Hong Kong’s handover 20 years ago from British to Chinese rule, Woo said Beijing’s governing framework had succeeded in allowing the “democratic monitoring” of city authorities by opposition forces and the media, which had improved the government’s transparency.
Tony Cheung became a political journalist in 2007. He joined the Post in 2012, and covers Hong Kong-mainland relations, public policies and political issues. Prior to joining the Post, he was a reporter at Asia Television in Hong Kong, Beijing and Guangzhou. He holds a Master of Laws in Human Rights degree from the University of Hong Kong.
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