Opinion | Chief executive election: three areas where candidates can transform Hong Kong governance
- Carrie Lam’s proposal for reorganising the government structure provides an opportunity for potential candidates to express new perspectives
- Key challenges include how to tackle climate change, digitalisation and economic progress, to better serve the public
Aspiring candidates will have to state their visions and policies for Hong Kong. A persuasive manifesto must resonate with the people and fit the trajectory of national development. Hong Kong’s leader should also have an appealing international message.
A popular incumbent has it relatively easy. But tremendous effort is required for someone whose popularity has waned to show that the incumbent is still the best person to guide society under ever more complex circumstances. A challenger needs to have new ideas and must appear to be the better choice.
Despite the fact the general public cannot vote directly for their leader, ordinary folk are still interested in what kind of person will be in charge for the coming five years. Hence, there will be great interest even if there won’t be the fanfare associated with a popular election.
