Support the SAR govt

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), emphasized recently that Hong Kong's top priority today is economic development, because it is the only way to improve people's well-being. The reality is that Hong Kong is losing its competitive edges while its deeper problems are surfacing, all the more reason for society to support Chief Executive (CE) Leung Chun-ying and the SAR government in focusing on effective administration. Only by supporting the SAR government can we expect the economy to improve. Therefore all members of Hong Kong society should support the CE as best they can so that he can lead the SAR government in implementing the central government's Hong Kong policies and fulfill its expectations, which are enhancing the economy and people's livelihood as well as protecting public welfare and Hong Kong's overall interest.

The Basic Law has it that the CE is head of the SAR government and the SAR itself. It also stipulates that the CE answers to the central government and is responsible for leading local residents from all walks of life in implementing the central government's Hong Kong policies. The fact that the central authorities are committed to "having Leung's back" shows their unquestionable trust and support for him.

Zhang pointed out that currently the whole world is focused on reviving the economy and shaking off the bad tidings from the latest financial crisis. The next three years is crucial to the success of such efforts and the most important task in this period is to cultivate new competitive edges. As a matter of fact, economic success depends on governing excellence everywhere in the world. Leung and his SAR government are in a critical moment of Hong Kong's history. Hong Kong should be able to seize the opportunity to build new competitive edges for further development if the SAR government can maintain effective administration.

CE Leung and the SAR government he heads have achieved undeniable success in implementing a series of measures designed to boost the economy and people's livelihood since taking office. However, the opposition camp has been picking political fights with Leung and his SAR government by incessantly bad-mouthing them in order to ruin their image. Its goal is to paralyze the SAR government and hurt Hong Kong's economy as a whole.

This is an excerpted translation of a Wen Wei Po editorial published on May 2.

(HK Edition 05/03/2013 page1)