The resignation of Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung and Secretary for Security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, a fresh round of consultation for the National Security Bill and the removal of health chief Yeoh Eng-kiong as head of a team investigating the government's handling of Sars is a partial victory for the people.

However, it stops short of the demands of the people, including the call for full democratisation and the appointment of an independent committee to investigate the Sars outbreak.

The ministers' resignation may breathe fresh life into the ailing accountability system, but Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa must refrain from shielding incompetent officials. With public patience wearing thin, the only way to restore credibility is by living up to the professed standards of accountability and by listening to the people.

While Mrs Ip's resignation and a fresh round of consultation may help ease tension over the National Security Bill, the administration can only mend the rift with the public by conducting genuine and sincere consultation. History will repeat itself if Mrs Ip is replaced by another obdurate official, and if the administration does not open itself to a range of options acceptable to the public. Intransigence should be replaced with open mindedness, and officials should consider legislating without infringing human rights at a time and pace accepted by the public. To this end, the administration should issue a White Paper with details of the different proposals.

The removal of Dr Yeoh as head of the Sars investigation committee, to dispel doubts about its credibility, is a move in the right direction, but it falls short of calls for an independent commission under the Commission of Inquiry Ordinance. Mr Tung's obsession that the investigation should not point the finger is fundamentally flawed - an accountable government holds its officials responsible for wrongdoings. Only an independent investigation can ensure that justice is seen to be done.

The many failings of the Tung administration have brought the issue of democratisation to the forefront of the political agenda. Mr Tung's impervious disregard of public criticism and the way he steamrollers any opposition stem more from the undemocratic election system than from his arrogance. The undemocratic basis of Legco, with a disproportionate number of seats from the business sector, enables the government to push through its policies regardless of the weight of opposition. More than ever, people realise that the lack of a democratically elected government and a fully democratically elected legislature is at the heart of many problems. Now more earnest than ever, people want to have democracy tomorrow.

Under the Basic Law, the chief executive can be elected by universal suffrage as early as 2007 and the legislature can be fully democratically elected in 2008. Recent developments have overthrown claims that Hong Kong should take a cautious approach to democratisation. The historic turnout on July 1 and the masses' persistence in pursuing the cause has disproved Mr Tung's claim that Hong Kong people give democracy a low priority. The calmness and orderliness displayed during the protests laid to rest any argument that Hong Kong is not ready for democracy.

Mr Tung's assertion that Hong Kong needs to focus on economic recovery rather than political development was also proven wrong. The public know too well that economic performance is inextricably linked to politics, and the historic turnout showed that people want a political system which protects their rights and interests.

Unfortunately, the timetable reviewed by Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung - with public consultation in 2004 or 2005, and legislation in 2006 - means direct elections in 2007 are unlikely, if not impossible. Constitutional review is a politically complex issue and the dynamics and conflicts need ample time to be sorted. Unless having direct elections in 2007 is out of the question, starting consultation at the end of the year may be the most sensible thing to do and may save the beleaguered administration from further political crisis. More stonewalling will only infuriate those who have called for full democratisation - and they have shown they are in no mood to take this matter lying down.

Mr Tung's pledge to meet different parties is a welcome move, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. While the Democratic Party has always been ready to engage in a dialogue with Mr Tung, the way he has been sidestepping the democrats made voters feel disenfranchised. A government which listens to its people should ensure that opposing views are not just received, but adopted if they have merit.

If the breakdown in communication and trust has brought the masses to the streets, it is time for the Tung administration to bring back trust and rebuild the relationship with those it governs - by showing it can listen to the people, live up to the standards of accountability and share power with its people. Only a truly democratic system can protect the rights and interests of the governed.

YEUNG SUM

Chairman of the Democratic Party and a directly elected Legislative

Councillor

[South China Morning Post, July 23, 2003]