The Foreign Service Journal, May 2005

pro-Beijing political parties. With not much power in their hands, Hong Kong’s political par- ties want a stake in the chief exec- utive process. They want a more open nomination system instead of the handpicking of the past. The democratic alliance, a minor- ity in the Legislative Council, wants to field a candidate of its own, although the plan is unlikely to succeed because the alliance has few votes within the committee. Still, the current transition in Hong Kong could be an opportunity for both sides to bridge that gap, albeit gradually. Many were encouraged by the imminent succession to the chief executive position of veteran civil servant Donald Tsang, rather than another bil- lionaire businessman or other figure known mainly for being close to the PRC. However, the fact that he may only serve out the remaining two years of Tung’s tenure, rather than receiving a full five-year term in his own right, suggests that Beijing is not yet entirely comfortable with his popularity. Even though not directly elected to the position, Tsang’s selection as chief executive would imply a mandate from the people — a legitimacy — that his predecessor never earned. And if, as many expect, Tsang proves to be a capable leader, that fact would bolster Hong Kong’s assertion to Beijing that it could make smart choices on its own. Possible Reforms In the meantime, Beijing could also allow changes to the chief executive selection process to encourage greater public participation in the future. F O C U S 56 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / M A Y 2 0 0 5 Well before Tung Chee-hwa resigned as Hong Kong’s chief executive, Beijing had signaled its unhappiness with his tenure.