How to bridge the divide (27 April 2006)

Newspapers have been filled with feverish speculation about the relationship between the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) and Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen - as he gets ready for his anticipated campaign for re-election next year.

Mr Tsang is seeking to forge political alliances - which we in the Liberal Party warmly welcome. It signals progress in the development of our political system, and should promote open and honest debate and dialogue between government officials and political parties.

It shows that, like governments in developed democracies, our administration is looking for allies with similar philosophies. In our system, however, such alliances are even more vital because the administration has no seats in the 60-member legislature.

As this co-operation develops, it is important that the chief executive builds a broad spectrum of relationships. Commentators have made playful references to a marriage between Mr Tsang and the DAB. But I'm sure both parties realise their relationship will need to be less exclusive, and more pragmatic, than a union of that sort.

While an alliance with one party holding 12 seats in the legislature is a positive beginning, it is a start and no more. Mr Tsang has sworn to serve all of Hong Kong: he will need a wide spectrum of allies if he is to hear the voice of the people and win legislative support for his policies.

But the chief executive needs more than a group of legislators willing to rubber-stamp his policies in a kind of management coalition. He needs alliances in which he is offered advice, guidance and criticism. Mr Tsang should try to create a policy coalition - a partnership in which legislators representing their constituents have a real say in policy decisions and can bring the voice of the Hong Kong people to the very heart of the government.

The Liberal Party has 10 Legislative Council seats and support in the middle-class, business and industrial sectors. If combined with the DAB's grass-roots voters, we could speak for a large part of Hong Kong society. But the chief executive should not stop there. His allies should also include The Alliance and other independent, like-minded legislators.

Between us, we could not and would not presume to speak for all of Hong Kong. But in our imperfect and developing political system, a broader alliance of this kind could help make our government more representative, and better at listening. This would be no marriage of convenience. It would, instead, be a pragmatic and progressive coalition in which we could advise, argue and debate on behalf of the people who voted us into office.

In a recent article by Chris Yeung in the South China Morning Post, an unnamed official was quoted as saying that the Liberal Party was seen as somehow unreliable by the government. That came as a surprise, since this party has supported the government on every budget and every policy address since the handover.

The official was apparently referring to the Article 23 debate, when the Liberal Party put its weight behind the 500,000-plus people who marched to oppose the legislation. We followed our conscience and took a stand that we believed then, and believe now, was in Hong Kong's best interests.

If an official chooses to interpret our action that way, I am afraid I have to disappoint him or her and say that we will carry on speaking our mind. We will continue to do what we consider is right for our constituents and right for Hong Kong.

Mr Tsang needs a bridge to the people of Hong Kong if he is to build a successful and lasting administration. I believe that if he will seek out the advice and support of not only the DAB - but also of the Liberal Party, The Alliance and other independent, like-minded legislators - we can help him achieve his policy address mission of strong governance.