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It is understandable that there are still some veiled criticisms. In fact, these people are quite satisfied, though not 100% satisfied,
with the list in their inner mind.
In my opinion, if a choice has to be made between Sze-yuen CHUNG and Maria TAM, it seems that Sze-yuen CHUNG should be the better choice from the standpoint of Beijing's interest because there are not many days to come for 68-year-old Sze-yuen CHUNG whereas Maria TAM, only 39, gets an upper hand in terms of age. Apparently,
As
Maria TAM, one of the elite of the two Councils, will play a more significant role than Sze-yuen CHUNG in the Drafting Committee. TAM can still exercise her influence after 1997, it is a wise move to
hand over this political gift to this younger person.
Do the 'orthodox'
people agree with this?
The 50-year-no-change' policy cannot possibly be applied to the monopoly of political power by the influential people of the existing power machinery. In order to maintain their established power, some people are particularly scared of the participation of other representative personages or other strata. When other people also take part, they would, consciously or unconsciously, betray their feeling of resentment and disapproval. The best reason they have is their criticising other people of not being familiar with the functioning of the existing machinery. In fact, Maria TAM has served the two Councils for merely a short period of several years. Despite her rather short experience, she has managed to become well versed in the functioning of the two Councils. From the skilful way she dealt with the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Bill and the dexterous remarks she gave in reply to public criticism, that she is definitely a cut above the very much senior Sze-yuen CHUNG. From this, one can also realize that the functioning of the two Councils is by no means a 'mysterious' thing. But it is expected that the pretext of 'not being familiar with the functioning of the machinery' will henceforth become a commonly-used trick in hindering the other Hong Kong people from taking part in local politics.
one can see
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