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Gary Cheung

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee’s platform for her chief executive bid is a testament to her efforts to strike a fine balance between securing Beijing’s trust and winning the support of the Hong Kong people.
As she officially announced her run for the city’s top job on Thursday, the New People’s Party chairwoman called for harmonising the relationship between Hong Kong and the mainland in the wake of growing tension across the border over the past few years.
In her declaration speech, she pointed to the need for efforts to go beyond “slogan-yelling to solve the myriad problems faced by Hong Kong”. Her solution? A “comprehensive narrative” about the concept of “one country, two systems”.

Watch: Regina Ip announces chief executive bid, vowing to “Win Back Hong Kong”



“I believe the next administration shall give Hong Kong people and the international community a more in-depth and comprehensive narrative about the concept and implementation of ‘one country, two systems’, with a view to rebuilding harmonious Hong Kong-mainland relations so that Hong Kong can continue playing to the strengths of ‘one country, two systems’,” she said.
Ip pledged to relaunch consultation on electoral reform based on the restrictive framework laid down by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee in August 2014 for electing the chief executive by universal suffrage. In June last year, the Hong Kong government’s proposal for the 2017 chief executive election, which followed Beijing’s framework under which Hongkongers would choose from two or three candidates endorsed by a 1,200-strong nominating committee, was voted down in the Legislative Council.

Known as “Iron Lady” because of her combative and uncompromising style in her promotion of the national security legislation in 2003, Ip also promised to revive the shelved legislation to implement Article 23 of the Basic Law.
In July 2003, she stepped down as security chief after 500,000 people took to the streets in protest and forced the government to shelve the bill.




Compared with Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah, who has scored points for his appreciation of Hong Kong’s values and recognition of the bright side of localism, Ip obviously chose to pay greater heed to “one country” while highlighting the importance of “two systems”.
Tsang, who tendered his resignation on Monday, is expected announce his bid for the city’s top job once he gets approval from the central government.
The slogan of Ip’s manifesto, “Win Back Hong Kong”, begs the question of from whom she or Hong Kong people should win the city back, or what she wants to win back for Hong Kong, which has been deeply divided since the Occupy protests in 2014.
Can Regina Ip come back from the brink to claim Hong Kong’s top job?
Ip should bear late Singaporean prime minister Lee Kuan Yew’s advice in mind when she struggles to please both Beijing and Hongkongers. During his visit to Hong Kong in 2005, Lee said the chief executive had a very difficult task.
“It is a thankless job. You have a master in China. You have subsidiary masters in Hong Kong,” he said.
Ip, the veteran-official-turned-politician, was all business when she outlined her platform on nine policy areas at Thursday’s press conference, making it more like a media briefing on policy papers offered by a minister.




During her 45-minute speech at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, she made no mention of her personal history or family, and there was a dearth of colourful sound bites to rouse her supporters on the floor.
At his election rally in November 2011, then underdog Leung Chun-ying fought back tears when he talked about how the image of his late mother kept coming back to him as he was writing his declaration speech.
Leung, who defeated the early front runner Henry Tang Ying-yen four months later, said his mother had her feet bound when she was a child, and that every step he had taken up to this point was “like the step that my bound-foot mother had taken. It symbolises my determination in pursuing my goals”.
All eyes are on Ip now, waiting to see how far the “Iron Lady” – armed with her no-frills declaration speech and manifesto – can go in the race to succeed Leung, who stunned the city last week with his decision not to seek re-election.


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In run for top job, Regina Ip seeks balance between pleasing Beijing and Hongkongers

New People’s Party chairwoman wants harmonisation of relationship between city and mainland China in wake of growing tensions

People in a rally against Article 23 legislation are pictured in Causeway Bay. The protestors march from Victoria Park in Causeway Bay to proceed Central Government Offices in Central. 01 July 2003

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee announces her election bid at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Photo: Edward Wong

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Hong Kong

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New People’s Party chairwoman wants harmonisation of relationship between city and mainland China in wake of growing tensions


Regina Ip