CE election race shows up our flawed political culture

I am among those citizens who are increasingly unhappy about the entire election. What worries me most is the apparent lack of talented candidates for the position.

The same goes for previous holders of Hong Kong's highest political office. Neither Tung Chee-hwa nor Donald Tsang Yam-kuen managed to live up to the public's expectations.

It's already 15 years since the handover, yet we are still waiting for a chief executive with excellent political skills, long-term vision and unquestioned moral integrity.

None in the current line-up of candidates command widespread public support and respect. Several have been tainted by scandals.

This is a sorry showing.

First, our government and political system have failed to produce high-ranking politicians with strong, natural abilities.

The immaturity of political parties in Hong Kong has also contributed to the problem.

As the chief executive post was designed to be independent from political parties or organisations, political parties do not have the incentive to train an emerging political leader.

Many political stars have merely developed into Legislative Council members.

Election processes are key to the smooth and fair functioning of a democracy. Yet suitable candidates for the city's highest office cannot just be expected to come out of the blue. Rather, they have to be trained and cultivated.

In order to retain our high degree of political autonomy, as enshrined in the Basic Law, we need strong chief executives with good political skills.