Chan must seek common ground, opportunity with NENT plan
Development chief Paul Chan Mo-po was involved in a minor car accident not long after he was mired in the “conflict-of-interest” controversy. Previously some local lawmakers have urged him to step down, claiming he has failed to fully clear all doubts about his wife’s ownership of land at Kwu Tung North, earmarked as a new town in the proposed North East New Territories (NENT) Development Plan. Pressure has mounted for Chan to resign though there is no proof of misconduct at this moment.
Legislative Council (LegCo) President Jasper Tsang Yok-sing has warned that the SAR government is at risk of falling into a “Tacitus Trap”, named after Roman senator and historian Gaius Cornelius Tacitus, in which the general public is believed to make their judgment on any public policy based on their trust in the government. As the old Chinese saying has it: If the people have no faith in a government, there is no standing for the government.
In my eyes, challenges should not be seen as obstacles but rather as opportunities for acquiring new experiences in life. Just as people say, “The man who never makes mistakes loses a great many chances to learn something.” As an alumnus of the same university, I would give my best wishes for the secretary’s recovery. Good news is that “lying down” sometimes can ease the tired mind and improve the vision. Being at the center of controversy for a long time, and facing difficulty concentrating on his job, the development chief needs more time to develop hunger and accomplish big dreams for the betterment of Hong Kong.
There is room for Chan to improve his leadership by adopting Albert Einstein’s rules to his work and everyday life. As Einstein said, “Out of clutter, find simplicity; from discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
It is the privilege of wisdom to stay calm and carry on the journey of Hong Kong’s sustainable development. Unfortunately, a couple of times, Chan has not kept a cold head and has chosen a “toothpastesqueezing” approach in handling the land ownership controversy, resulting in a public relations disaster. Furthermore, it seems that Chan has yet to steer clear of his “businessman lifestyle” after taking up public office.
While there is still a long road ahead, we should not forget to measure our development chief by the opposition it takes to discourage him. As the old saying goes, only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even. What Chan may need to improve is to better forecast and make a strategic plan to defend his position. And in case of trouble, it is always wise to “take it easy and get a good resolution”.
I would like to paraphrase another famous quote: “If the mountain won’t move, build a road around it. If the road won’t turn, change your path. If you are unable to even change your path, just transform your mind.” Since many believe the NENT proposal is a very important policy for the Leung Chun-ying administration, it is not surprising that it has encountered formidable hindrance from opposition parties. When the Development Bureau is handicapped by controversies surrounding Chan and his political assistant, wouldn’t it be better off to “slow down” a bit and revisit the journey?
Meanwhile, since a good new town plan involves more than developing housing and supporting facilities, Chan should use more time to examine criticism and dissenting opinions and make a decent balance of various stakeholders’ interests. Equally important, Chan should better identify who potentially cares about the proposal and motivate them to express support for it.
“The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to prepare to win.” At this turbulent moment, it is a province of wisdom to take it easy, refine the scope of this strategically important project, identify the necessary political resources, and continuously communicate with various stakeholders. The HKSAR government should at least put the proposal onto society’s agenda, ignite a strong spirit of teamwork and cross-team work, and resolve the disputes within a reasonable period of time.