HK Chief Executive Election

As early as right after Hong Kong change in sovereignty, most predicted Shanghai would replace Hong Kong as the most beloved city of China. After all, Shanghai is the home grown city, whereas Hong Kong is an adopted son or the return of the drifted son, of which the people’s mind set, their values and the city culture are more cling to the West which is very different from, and not so accepted in, the Mainland.

Do you really believe the one-country two-systems intact for 50 years? I do not. But I do believe it is the authority’ wishes to keep Hong Kong status quo for 50 years. 50 years is short in human history, but it could be a lengthy period for a government to maintain its “status Quo”. Then tell me what you would do if you want to keep things as it is, better no backward or forward especially no significant or remarkable developments that make the island stand out at the world stage. If the Island is remarkable, it plays down the other sister cities. If HK falls behind or backward, it hurts the locals and authorities either. Then as a strategist or a person masterminds the political and social balance， what would you do? Consider also from the authority’s point of view, it is not just to deal with the immense situation. It needs, for long term, to cater for the possible social and political upturns in China’s vast landscape in the future.

In the late-80s when the US wanted to break their labour unions in its own states, instead of having the trial in its own land, they chose New Zealand as their Guinea pig. They spent money to lobby the NZ statesmen, labour leaders, assisted them with US labour lawyers etc.. So the new labour law (employment contract Act) was enacted in 1991 and labour unions were broken down one after another, the US examined the outcome for their own sakes.

When Deng Xiao Ping started his economic reforms, he experimented his ideology in a few places before rolling it out in other parts of the mainland. So it came the 4 special economic zones Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou, and Xiamen. The leaders then studied their outcomes with respect to their parameters of each zone such as environment, location, finance, education, infrastructure, plus the various actions and actors involved.

As a strategic modeller, you are asked to produce the expected outcome. Supposed the expected outcome is to keep the Status Quo including economic, financial, political, and educational, GDP, technological. This is not an easy task as it is an open world today with advanced communication media, internet, not to mention possible Western influences / interventions such as US, Japan and its likes. The utmost important and controllable parameter is the Government as its policies would affect both the public and private sectors. HK civil servants have the long traditions of being executioners rather than venturers. Keep their rice bowl full and their innovation will be silent. keep the riches and let them be the icons for those that are eager for hopes. Keep everybody busy in their long hours job to hocus their mind. Keep their elected counsellors oppose each other whatever matter in their everyday fights that no collaborative efforts and results could be achieved.

It is not expected any changes for the people from a new chief executive election. Whatever the outcome is, there will still be the same social rift, wealth polarisation, comfort for the middle class, skiing property price, dreams for quick fortune as these are parameters that keep Hong Kong’s status quo. Everything in the election and the social landscape has been well planned over a decade ago especially after the July-1 Grand March in 2003. The chief executive candidates are there to perform a show orchestrated by the authorities. What you learn from the daily news are just episodes to make you feel it is not a dull show.

There is no way you can plead you wishes to the authority. You can see whatever you believe “legitimate petitions” in the Mainland have all been cracked down by the Mainland authority. It is because only the authority’s initiatives are legitimate. It is suggested to keep a low profile, keep everything unprovoked, live as an ordinary person and do not expect ex-ordinaries. In Hong Kong, we have social security, public housing, medicare, full employment. Although not everybody is well cared for, most do. After all, life is not fair since the dawn breaks. What would you expect apart from an ordinary life! If you are not contented and you believe you should be treated better than others, then you can look for a better place for yourself. If you think you are living a sad life, then go watch the 2016 movie “Manchester by the sea”. You will learn what is the meaning of tremendous pressure in life and live by your dark shadow. Check YouTube for the word “hunger” and you will appreciate you have good food and clear water. Life in Hong Kong for most people is a blessing though it is controlled.