Insights from Hong Kong

Posts Tagged ‘Election’

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Messy, Sloppy, Uneven Democracy – CY Leung, New Hong Kong Chief Executive

In China, Hong Kong, Public Affairs on 26 March 2012 at 11:59 AM

On Sunday the Election Committee nominated CY Leung as the next Chief Executive of Hong Kong. And while having 1,200 selected members choose a nation’s leader doesn’t necessarily sound like democracy, in a weird Hong Kong way it was. Sort of.

At the start of the process it was made clear that, of the three candidates, there really was one chosen one – Henry Tang. He was widely seen as the favourite choice for businessmen, civil servants, and the government in Beijing. This was Henry’s election to lose - and lose it he did!

In a string of widely publicised scandals Henry Tang went from front-runner to flat-footed. First came revelations he had a string of affairs while married. Then he was found to have a 2,500 square foot luxury basement built without planning approval. Tang blamed his wife. (More on that later. Tang could face jail for the illegal dwelling.) Next came the purported baby from those out-of-wedlock trysts.

The third candidate, Albert Ho, was never expected to gain much support. He is the chairman of the break-away Democratic party. To call them a thorn in the side of China would be an understatement. We have more chance of the Dalai Lama being received in the Great Hall of the People than seeing a Democrat in charge of Hong Kong.

Then there was CY. He started with the popular support of the people in Hong Kong – if only as a replacement for what was seen as a shoe-in for Tang. Yet he too suffered his scandals, especially when it was found that members of his election committee met with a renowned Triad member at a restaurant in the New Territories.

So there we were. Three candidates. Each touched with a fair degree of soil. Yet on Sunday in the Hong Kong Exhibition Center the 1,200 members of the Election Committee convened and voted. CY Leung received 689 votes in the first round – well over the 50% required to avoid a second round vote.

And there they were. The unsuccessful candidates congratulated Leung, who promised to unite our fair city:

“From now on, there won’t be any Tang camp, Ho camp nor Leung camp. There is only one camp – the Hong Kong camp.” CY Leung in his acceptance remarks.

And there THEY were – the protesters Beijing hates to see. Thousands gathered. Several attempted to break-in. Police used pepper spray to disperse the heartiest protesters.

A choice of candidates. A demonstration against the winner – and a larger one planned for this coming Sunday.  A series of opinion polls. Many, many scandals. Accusations and counter-accusations. In a messy, sloppy, uneven way this is how democracy works. Most important this “trial” was meant to prepare the people of Hong Kong for the next stage – the direct election of a Chief Executive by the people in 2017.

This messy election was the starter – we get a real taste of democracy in five years time.

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Five things businesses can learn from the Hong Kong chief executive election

In Hong Kong on 20 March 2012 at 3:54 PM

By Robyn Joseph

From Campaign Asia

Robyn Joseph, Partner, Kreab Gavin Anderson

Six days before the Hong Kong chief executive election, with the relationship between politicians, bureaucrats, the media and the public shifting, Robyn Joseph, partner of Kreab & Gavin Anderson, shares the implications for communication to mass audiences in the future.

1. The weight of public opinion

Hong Kong has spoken. Ethics, honesty and transparency are qualities that it values in its leaders, both government and business. Possessing power and wealth no longer exclude leaders from these standards. Therefore, businesses in Hong Kong would be well advised to review and prepare risk-mitigation and change-management strategies if necessary, because if they are found lacking they will be held accountable.

2. Social change and business decision-making

There are three candidates in the chief executive race, one from the pan-democratic camp and two from the pro-establishment camp. Interestingly, the real competition is between the two pro- establishment representatives. This tells us that even within the pro-establishment camp, there are individuals who are not satisfied with the status quo.

Most significantly, public opinion polls demonstrate that the Hong Kong people are not satisfied with the status quo. Therefore social change is afoot.

While it is still early days, the lesson for business is that it should not be making decisions based on the ‘old standards’. Business should be listening very carefully to the community to understand what it is that Hong Kong aspires to. Business’ future success will to some extent be based on its ability to deliver the changes that Hong Kong wants.

3. Social media: is anyone listening?

The traditional media has delivered a beating to each of the two pro-establishment candidates throughout the campaign. But neither has any excuses for not having been warned.

The social media was buzzing with the next juicy story before it was released by the traditional media online. And following each shocking revelation, the social media buzzed with opinion as to how the candidates should handle themselves.

While the reticence to engage with the social media is understandable, business and government should, at the very least, be using it to listen. Never before have they had such an efficient, real-time method to gather opinion.

4. Social versus traditional media

Everyone has got an opinion, but not every opinion is well considered. Business could never hope to reach everyone with an opinion, but it should spend some time identifying the most influential bloggers and tweeters, just as it does for the traditional media. It’s not hard to do. The tools are available.

5. Level Hong Kong’s playing field

One of the biggest observations during the election campaign is Hong Kong’s outrage at the extravagance of its leaders. As Hong Kong’s middle class begins to struggle to manage basics like  housing, education and health, the community expects its civil servants to act. This is likely to lead to more regulation. So business would be well advised to keep an eye on the agenda in LegCo.

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“Was That A Nod, Premier Wen?” Hong Kong Asks

In China, Hong Kong on 15 March 2012 at 5:37 PM

What is Premier Wen pointing to? Is that CY Leung's name pinned to the ceiling?

The National People’s Conference concluded yesterday in Beijing. And to wrap up proceedings Premier Wen Jiabao held a press conference over three hours. There were far-ranging topics discussed, from economic policy to the actions of Chongqing’s Deputy Mayor.

In-between there was talk of Hong Kong. And while no definitive direction was offered, there’s a scramble to decipher each word.

“I believe that, as long as the principles of openness, justice and fairness are observed and relevant procedures are complied with, the chief executive election will result in a leader who has the support of the vast majority of the people in Hong Kong,” said Premier Wen (Source: The Standard).

As a simple American-Australian, I read this to say that citizens in Hong Kong will be happy with whoever is chosen so long as it is done in a transparent and just fashion.

But in Hong Kong the interpretations are flying. Everyone is keen to know which candidate for Chief Executive Beijing will support come the 25 March election.

Some say this is a clear nod to candidate CY Leung – as he is the candidate preferred today in opinion polls (“leader who has the support of the vast majority”).

Henry Tang chose to emphasise another portion in his web post yesterday (“principles of openness, justice and fairness”). He infers it made him the clear choice.

Sadly no one believes the third candidate – Albert Ho – was even referenced. As he is Chairman of the Democratic party he is unlikely to ever get mentioned politely among political circles in Beijing.

Thankfully my interpretation wasn’t far off base:

Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong chairman Tam Yiu-chung said Wen did not indicate which candidate Beijing favors. (Source: The Standard)

With a track record like that, maybe I have a future reading tea leaves.

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HKG Chief Executive Race: Dinner and a Date – With the Triad

In Hong Kong, Public Affairs on 12 March 2012 at 11:32 AM

Another day, another scandal involving the candidates for Hong Kong Chief Executive post. With two weeks to go before the election it appears the mudslinging is reaching epic proportions. Hong Kong’s first taste of democracy is fast becoming a little unpleasant.

Yesterday two of the candidates for the role went on the attack in a debate organised by the South China Morning Post. CY Leung started by blaming Henry Tang for mishandling concert events in 2003 and then blaming a junior executive. HarbourFest was supposed to underpin a global return of tourism after the SARS crisis. Instead it was poorly organised and under-attended. In the end a public inquiry was held to better understand the high cost over-runs.

To counter Tang accused Leung of lacking the administrative experience necessary to run Hong Kong’s government. Leung rightly claimed that experience as an administrator is not what’s required to be a leader.

This mudslinging turns out to be a warm-up act.

On Friday Henry Tang reported to the police as he felt intimated that triad was involved in a smear campaign against him.

On Saturday, several election committee members from Heung Yee Kuk held a press conference to clarify questions surrounding their dinner with Leung’s camp in Lau Fau Shan last month.  The committee members gave a different account of the story than Lew Mon-hung, a core supporter of Leung who reportedly has a relationship with triad leader Kwok Wing-hung.  The committee members said Kwok had been invited to the dinner by Leung’s camp but Lew said Kwok showed at the dinner uninvited.  Lew also said the dinner was lined up by Heung Yee Kuk’s vice chairman Lam Wai-keung but Lam denied it.

It was a busy weekend at the police station. Last night, members of Leung’s election office including Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fan (羅范椒芬), Kaizer Lau Ping-cheung (劉炳章) and Karen Tang Shuk-tak (鄧淑德) went to the police and the ICAC to explain what had happened at that dinner.  Law said they proactively approached the departments to provide information on the incident as misleading and inaccurate comments had been given by different parties recently.  She reiterated that the election office did not know Kwok and had no relation with any triad members.  They also did not know in advance who would join the dinner with Heung Yee Kuk voters.  Law declined to comment on Lew’s remarks given on the issue. (See HKGElection blog by Kreab Gavin Anderson.)

Given the traffic this past weekend, perhaps Hong Kong Police need to consider upgrading their front entries.

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