Letters | What Hong Kong needs right now is leadership: Carrie Lam is not providing it
- The chief executive and her team have repeatedly condemned the violence but offered no leadership and no solution
- Our highly paid public servants need to offer something other than bureaucratic doublespeak and a fear of losing face
Sadly, the chief executive, the secretary of justice, the secretary for security and the commissioner of police, along with all the legislators of this administration, were conspicuous by their absence until their appearance, too late in my view, at a press conference on July 22.
Yes, I condemn the violence, as do many others. But what solutions and leadership were offered? None.
John J. Shanahan, Sai Kung
Solution for Hong Kong: a truly representative government
Our previous chief executives as well as our present one, together with the vested interests (read: tycoons), have only kowtowed to Beijing without regarding the interest of Hong Kong people. Matters have now boiled over.
The liaison office of the central government as well as our government have totally ignored or misinterpreted the underlying sentiments in our society. But as I said, there is a way out. The present government has to resign, because they have failed to represent the sentiments of the people of Hong Kong. Moreover, they have failed to reassure the central government. Taiwan is laughing, because “one country, two systems” ultimately failed. Not because of Beijing, but because of a total failure of our government to communicate, comprehend and listen to the people they represent.
Beijing is right to ignore the reports of a resignation request from Lam, which her office has denied, in any case. First sort out the problems you created, then we can talk.
In conclusion, if you fail to understand or represent your people, it is time to go. Universal suffrage. One man, one vote.
Peter den Hartog, Tuen Mun