Hong Kong Chief Executive (CE) Donald Tsang began the
consultation exercise for his two-year term's second policy address
by meeting professional sectors' representatives and Liberal Party
lawmakers separately.
He promised to include in his policy address all the views he
gathers during his month-long consultation exercise, even though
they were bound to be different.
"In the final analysis, the policy address is to reflect the
views of Hong Kong people and to serve their interests," he said in
a statement.
"Like my last policy address, I will take a pragmatic approach
to set policy objectives and implement them as best as I can during
my term."
After meeting Tsang, Hong Kong Coalition of Professional
Services Chairman Leung Chun-ying said it was his second meeting
with the CE in two months.
The possible problems of the professional sectors have been
handled with great care by the CE, Leung said, stressing that he
had wanted to go to the root of the matter.
Though the 10 professional sectors raised category-specific
concerns, they had two things in common too.
They want the details of the phase three of Closer Economic
Partnership Arrangement to announce as soon as possible.
And, apart from the "export of professional services to mainland
users", they want the central and SAR governments to allow mainland
enterprises to open regional headquarters or branch offices in Hong
Kong.
"If that happens, mainland enterprises will make use of Hong
Kong's legal, accounting and other professional services and employ
local people," Leung said.
Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Vice-President Mark Fong said they were negotiating with the
Ministry of Finance to know the practicing rights of its members on
the mainland and hoped that all of them would be allowed to
practice there.
At their meeting with Tsang, Liberal Party Chairman James Tien
and other members suggested that the CE in 2012 be elected through
universal suffrage.
As for the Legislative Council (LegCo) election, Tien said the
functional constituency seats should be phased out gradually, but
his party didn't have any concrete timetable for that.
"Since we have six years for the 2012 CE election, we think we
have sufficient time to prepare well," he said after the
meeting.
"For example, political parties should do better and the
government should develop more political talents and consolidate
the civil service as a back-up for the CE," he said.
"We propose that the government form a ruling coalition of
like-minded people to enable future CEs to form their cabinets and
solve the problem of lack of votes in the Legislative
Council."
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(China Daily August 8, 2006)