Laozi, one of the greatest philosophers in Chinese history, said in the Daodejing, the cultural icon of Chinese civilization, that you won’t get anywhere unless you start the journey — “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Laozi’s principle of seizing the moment to usher in a new era also applies to Hong Kong, as the city, at a critical stage of its transformation, wades through trying circumstances to pursue lasting prosperity. The special administrative region government should, therefore, initiate reform of district councils urgently to achieve the desired “good governance” for a better Hong Kong and faithful implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle.
According to the Article 97 of the Basic Law, “District organizations which are not organs of political power may be established in the HKSAR, to be consulted by the government of the Region on district administration and other affairs, or to be responsible for providing services in such fields as culture, recreation and environmental sanitation.” As such, the practice of district councils and the election of the councilors were kept intact after China resumed sovereignty of the city in 1997. The SAR government even tried to increase the number of seats open for direct elections to improve its level of representation in coping with local affairs. The opinions of the members of the public can be discussed in the council, which facilitates communication and cooperation between the public and the government. Over the decades, the public health, transportation and community facilities have been improved, indicating that the quality of life has improved.
However, the operations of the district councils at the local level showed intrinsic problems when political fanatics infiltrated and turned it into a chaotic battleground of politics. Some elected councilors failed to live up to the expectations of their constituents, and the situation culminated in 2019, when representatives of the opposition camp stole the majority of the seats through the tricks of disinformation and misinformation. Since then, the district councils have been manipulated by radicals and secessionists as a tool to advance their unholy political agenda.
I am convinced that the proposed reform signifies the importance of democratic development and raises the quality of community services, and thus, improves municipal governance at the community level. Residents will be able to cast their ballots to choose determined and committed representatives to serve the community. Councilors are more likely to discuss policies for the betterment of residents in a rational and pragmatic manner
For example, the unofficial “primaries” of the 47 opposition figures for the 2020 Legislative Council elections showed the ulterior motives of secessionists who defiantly declared their unlawful intention to “paralyze the operation of the government”. The agenda of the political fanatics included, but was not limited to, opposing the legislation and promulgation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong, supporting rioters to sabotage law and order, and campaigning for secession in local communities. There was no doubt that the district councils fell into the hands of extreme populists who were intent on annihilating the city for good. During their tenure, the councils were unable to discuss urgent livelihood issues, which upset citizens who complained about the deterioration of community services.
To make things worse, many district councilors from the opposition camp reneged on their promises to serve the community and resigned after implementation of the NSL. Residents, especially the needy, could not rely on them for any support. The situation deteriorated as many measures were rolled out during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as consumption vouchers, JoyYou Cards, a real-name registration program for SIM cards, and online appointments for COVID-19 vaccine jabs, leaving the elderly, the disadvantaged, and ethnic minorities perplexed, frustrated, and feeling betrayed by the councilors who quit.
President Xi Jinping said at the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National People’s Congress in March, “The long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions is part and parcel of the building of a strong China.” He pledged to solidify efforts in advancing the practice of “one country, two systems” and the cause of national reunification. In order to create a better development environment to maintain the city’s long-term prosperity and stability, the SAR government has been reviewing electoral reform of district councils and it is expected to wrap up soon to prevent any future malicious “hijacking”. The preliminary principles were released toward the end of April, and Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he believes that a certain amount of seats might still be chosen through direct elections. The municipal body is expected to be completely “depoliticized” and operate in accordance with administrative-led principles. Lee vowed to uphold national security, which should be a priority in the district council reform. When it comes to ensuring “patriots administering Hong Kong”, Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said future district councils would be purely advisory bodies composed only of patriots.
As an experienced community service worker, I am convinced that the proposed reform signifies the importance of democratic development and raises the quality of community services, and thus, improves municipal governance at the community level. Residents will be able to cast their ballots to choose determined and committed representatives to serve the community. Councilors are more likely to discuss policies for the betterment of residents in a rational and pragmatic manner.
District councils have always been the cradle of political talent. Many Legislative Council members, government officials and Executive Council members were elevated from the best district councils. If the functioning of district councils can be normalized, and their operation improved, there will be more capable candidates for the legislative and administrative bodies. Some promising young people may participate in the election of the district councils and embark on careers serving the public. Some of the brightest minds in our city can contribute to enhance the quality of district administration and enhance coordination and cooperation between the SAR government and local communities, between NGOs and care teams, as well as facilitate concerted efforts among the municipal departments. It is expected that the reformed district councils will nurture a new generation of political leaders who are committed to faithfully implement the “one country, two systems” principle.
The author is a community officer of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.