Ordinary Gweilo

It’s election day in Hong Kong. Never mind that the District Councils have been stripped of most of their power, or that Mr Tung will appoint his own representatives to supplement the elected councillors, the excitement is palpable. Well, no it’s not, actually. Last time less than 40% of the electorate bothered to turn out.

I can’t vote because I am too lazy to go and apply for a Permanent ID card, but even when I do have this privilege I am not sure I will know how to exercise it. The British government never quite trusted the people of Hong Kong enough to give them democracy when they had the chance, and the PRC government are in no hurry either. So we have a bunch of politicians who are reconciled to perpetual opposition and who don’t have to face up to the harsh realities of being in power. One of the trickiest aspects to being a politician is that you have to compromise between what the voters want and what it is practical to give them, and it is those choices that define the parties. Here the parties can promise the earth, knowing that they will never have to deliver.

I suppose we just have to hope that as elected politicians are given more power, they will also learn to act more responsibly, and that Hong Kong will eventually have a fully-functioning democratic system. I don’t think I’ll hold my breath…