Lam shows new style of leadership

Even before she was elected, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor promised she would introduce a new governance style into the special administrative region government should she be given the city's top job. On the second day after being sworn in, Lam wasted no time in showing her new style by paying whirlwind visits to several districts. She talked to people in the streets and met elderly people in their homes. This demonstrates her readiness to listen to ordinary citizens.

Another key aspect of her new governance style is her pledge to stay on good terms with the Legislative Council. She has emphasized that improving executive-legislative ties tops the agenda of her administration. Taking the initiative, she has promised to go more frequently to LegCo to answer questions from lawmakers on government policies. The first session will be today (Wednesday).

Indeed, good relations with the legislature are vital for smooth governance as the law-making body is responsible not only for enacting new laws and amending existing ones but also for funding appropriations. Government projects could not be launched should funding applications become bogged down in the legislature.

Lam's first major initiative after assuming office, for example, is to gain approval for an additional HK$5 billion in education funding. Time is running out as the legislative year ends later this month, so legislators' cooperation - at least no more filibusters - is most important to complete this before the summer break.

As the saying goes, it takes two to tango. Lam's goodwill to improve executive-legislative relations must be matched by that of the legislature in order for it to be realized. LegCo President Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen said Lam's proposal to speak more frequently at LegCo is being considered. But more important than the frequency of Lam's visits is how the opposition members treat the visiting CE and how they handle government applications for funding.

In the past five years, they used to greet former chief executive Leung Chun-ying with nothing but rudeness and even flying objects. They must learn to respect the CE as head of the administration as well as of the SAR itself.

Improving ties between the two branches of the government is not solely for the convenience of the administration, but more importantly for the sake of society. Many government initiatives relate to economic development and people's livelihoods. If these grind to a halt due to lack of funding, the ultimate victim will be Hong Kong people and their livelihoods.

(HK Edition 07/05/2017 page8)