With the National Security Law for Hong Kong having restored robust rule of law in the special administrative region, globe-trotters are back in our beloved multicultural city for fun, business, international trade shows and conferences, and to grasp opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Plan, the Regional Closer Economic Partnership and other collaborations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Middle East and Africa.
Visitors and residents alike can enjoy unmasked friendly smiles and a richness in the diversity of life, the performing arts, charming owner-operated eateries, street basketball and other unique local features as they stroll through different districts in Hong Kong.
To maintain diversity, increase harmony, improve local livelihoods and overcome the local challenges of working with the government and neighboring districts, the community can soon count on re-energized local district councils, which are expected to be composed partly of experienced appointees who have a proven track record of service to the community and have other expertise or knowledge to contribute, partly of those elected who are already serving in that district in various pro bono roles, and partly of those elected from within an open field for anyone who wishes to come forward to serve, who will have the chance to be vetted by the public and to be elected to contribute and learn alongside other, more experienced councilors. Taking a page out of the operating procedures of successful multinational corporations, we can expect uninterrupted continuity in community service and to be able to groom talents who have undivided loyalty, with the heart and ability to lead and to serve.
We can expect the new proposal to buildin safeguards against district councils being hijacked again by those with a foreign political agenda against our public and national security interests.
As originally designed and set out in the Basic Law and further elaborated on in the District Councils Ordinance, the functions of a district council are to advise the government on matters affecting the well-being of the people in that district; on the provision and use of public facilities and services within that district and on the adequacy and priorities of government programs for that district; and on the use of public funds allocated to that district for local public works and community activities.
I wholeheartedly support, and encourage all those who care for the wider community and future generations to endorse, the government’s proposal, and to get ready to stand to lead and to serve the community as a district councilor, and to strengthen harmonious and constructive communication with our executive-led government, and to improve whole-process people’s democracy and create synergies to solve local livelihood issues
During the “dark days”, some then-district councilors acted ultra vires and even abused the trust invested in them as members of a public office remunerated from the public purse to misuse the district council election process, to unscrupulously attack our “one country, two systems” principle, and to seek to upend our constitutional order. Some of these culprits have subsequently been held responsible by the public through the legal system, but others have effectively “absconded” by running away from their responsibilities and crimes. The existing District Councils Ordinance already makes clear that, with funds made available for the above four purposes, district councils shall undertake environmental improvements within the district; the promotion of recreational and cultural activities within the district; and community activities within the district.
Looking at the broader historical context, under colonial occupation and rule, local residents barely had any democracy to speak of — the governor who arrived in Hong Kong at Queen’s Pier was “above the law” and could not be prosecuted locally as he represented the monarch; the governor appointed his own Executive Council (cabinet) without any local elections; and for over 96 percent of the period of colonial occupation (until 1991, six years before the establishment of the HKSAR) there were no direct local elections at all. We have more democracy post-1997 than before, and I look forward to having district councilors elected under the new proposal to serve at the local level.
I wholeheartedly support, and encourage all those who care for the wider community and future generations to endorse, the government’s proposal, and to get ready to stand to lead and to serve the community as a district councilor, and to strengthen harmonious and constructive communication with our executive-led government, and to improve whole-process people’s democracy and create synergies to solve local livelihood issues at a critical point in history as Hong Kong advances from stability to prosperity, having already been restored to order from chaos. Let’s together contribute to building a brighter shared future!
The author is a Hong Kong Deputy to the National People’s Congress, and chairman of the Hong Kong and Mainland Legal Profession Association.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.