ExCo revamp unnecessary

Calls for a revamp of the Executive Council (ExCo) are unwarranted now in the sense that the advisory body is currently carrying out its designated function smoothly and effectively.

The departure of one or even a couple of unofficial members for personal reasons doesn't affect the balanced composition and broad representativeness of the current ExCo, whose members include legislators, professionals and individuals from the business sector and the rural areas. In fact, even with the resignation of unofficial member Barry Cheung Chun-yuen last week, the number of unofficial members in the advisory body now is still higher than at any time during the previous administrations.

ExCo's balanced composition conforms to the relevant requirements of the Basic Law and guarantees the continued, effective performance of its designated function, which is to advise the Chief Executive in making important policy decisions.

The notion that members of the current ExCo are less powerful than their predecessors during British rule is valid. But it should be interpreted and understood in the historical context.

By accident or design, there was a justifiable need for a mighty ExCo during British rule to counterbalance a powerful governor who would barely find any countervailing power from the Legislative Council (LegCo), whose members were appointed by the governor himself. In other words, LegCo then served only as an advisory body to the governor.

By contrast, the current LegCo, whose members are either elected directly or indirectly, is much more powerful than its predecessor during British rule, and has the capacity to monitor the work of the government and the Chief Executive, therefore serving as a countervailing power to the administrative branch of the SAR government.

Given the fact that LegCo is set to become more representative and powerful when all of its members are returned directly by universal suffrage - probably in 2020, the current constitution of ExCo as an advisory body to the Chief Executive is appropriate, and a revamp will prove unnecessary.

The author is a current affairs commentator.

(HK Edition 05/29/2013 page1)