Hong Kong got a new justice secretary yesterday -- a young lawyer who recently marched in a street protest against the government's decision to ask Beijing to settle a constitutional dispute.
The new official, Wong Yan-lung (黃仁龍), also has a reputation for having good ties with pro-democracy lawmakers -- unlike his predecessor Elsie Leung, who was widely thought to have warmer ties with the territory's rulers in Beijing.
Leung had been justice secretary since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. She has been asking to step down for several months, since her former boss, chief executive Tung Chee-hwa (
One of the biggest challenges Wong's faces will be protecting Hong Kong's legal system from meddling by China's Communist leaders.
The city is supposed to enjoy a wide-degree of autonomy under a "one country, two systems" model.
But many fear that Beijing has been tampering with the city's cherished rule of law by offering interpretations of the city's Basic Law, or mini constitution.
Wong said yesterday that he would protect Hong Kong's legal system. He acknowledged marching in a street protest last April when the government asked a powerful legislative panel in China's National People's Congress (NPC) to solve a constitutional dispute over the new chief executive's term limit.
"There was nothing wrong with me expressing my views on that," he said about the protest," he said.
Many in Hong Kong are also growing impatient with Beijing's refusal to allow voters to directly elect their leader and the entire legislature.
Wong sidestepped reporters' questions about his views on full democracy. He agreed that universal suffrage was a goal for Hong Kong, but he added, "I think we need to be pragmatic. We should adopt a pragmatic attitude."
His new boss, Chief Executive Tsang, praised him.
"I believe he is perfectly capable for the job. I also believe that both of us share a similar philosophy, and we'll be able to smoothly work together," Tsang said.
Wong also won the endorsement of Martin Lee (
"He's an honorable man and I believe he will definitely try his utmost to defend the spirit of the rule of law," Lee said.
But another pro-democracy legislator and lawyer, Ronny Tong (
"He's still very inexperienced. Can he control all these experienced lawyers at the Department of Justice? I hope he can," Tong said.
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