New Hong Kong leader denies trying to shed ‘CY 2.0’ label by undoing Leung policies
She suggests shelving plan to scrap MPF offset mechanism, reopening Civic Square and not overriding cabinet opinions
In her fourth day in office, Lam had already floated three ideas seen as contrasting with Leung’s earlier moves.
Lam said Leung failed to win consensus on the MPF offset mechanism.
Ahead of the first meeting with her Executive Council as chief executive, Lam said of her actions: “These are not deliberate attempts [to distance the administration from Leung’s].”
“The transition [of administrations] was certainly smooth and successful,” she added.
On the MPF offset issue, Lam said each administration might draw different views after considering public opinion, but she added that the government would continue to listen to all sides.
“If we can handle the security and management issues, I’m inclined to think it is suitable to adopt a more open approach,” Lam said.
She also vowed to improve the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of government, which she had earlier said was vital to smooth governance.
She was addressing media questions on Tuesday over how she could dispel the impression that Exco was dominated by the chief executive – a situation critics said occurred during Leung’s tenure.
Lam cited the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, which states that the city’s leader must put specific reasons on record if he or she moves ahead with a decision that has failed to win majority support from Exco.
She said: “I believe not only me – but also any chief executive – would not want to see the government having to frequently put [such disagreements] on the record.”
One way to ensure policies would win the support of Exco members, she said, was to invite them to exchange views with ministers in the earlier stages of policymaking.
Lam also said she hoped the seven lawmakers in Exco would bring in views from the legislature instead of simply rubber-stamping government policies.