Executive-led governance in Hong Kong must start by listening to the people

2026-02-22 - 01:35

When Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong recently described Hong Kong’s executive-led system as a distinct governance model, he elevated it from an administrative arrangement to constitutional doctrine. A doctrine is not merely about structure. It is about how governance power is exercised. In Hong Kong’s executive-led system, that exercise begins with engaging the governed. The national security white paper unveiled earlier this month highlights the need to achieve both...