Michael Suen
A retired senior government official says the Chief Executive isn't above the law – despite comments from CY Leung on Wednesday that his status transcends all three branches of government.
Michael Suen said officials need to give the public further explanation of the CE's status.
“The separation of powers, in the Hong Kong context, can mean only one thing… we’ve got judicial independence,” Suen said.
“The judiciary is not subject to either the executive branch or the legislative branch. And, the Chief Executive is subject to the laws of Hong Kong. He is not above the laws of Hong Kong. I think that's the most important point.”
The controversy began on Saturday, when the director of the liaison office, Zhang Xiaoming, suggested the CE had superior power in Hong Kong and there was no separation of powers between the executive, legislature and judiciary.
That evoked some sharp criticism from the pan-democratic camp, and Civic Party leader Alan Leong said Zhang’s comments raised the CE’s position to the level of an “emperor”.
Leung on Wednesday defended Zhang’s comments and said the chief executive wields a "transcendent" power beyond that of the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government, as he is the sole conduit of all political power conferred to Hong Kong by Beijing.
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Last updated: 2015-09-17 HKT 11:38
Michael Suen said officials need to give the public further explanation of the CE's status.
“The separation of powers, in the Hong Kong context, can mean only one thing… we’ve got judicial independence,” Suen said.
“The judiciary is not subject to either the executive branch or the legislative branch. And, the Chief Executive is subject to the laws of Hong Kong. He is not above the laws of Hong Kong. I think that's the most important point.”
The controversy began on Saturday, when the director of the liaison office, Zhang Xiaoming, suggested the CE had superior power in Hong Kong and there was no separation of powers between the executive, legislature and judiciary.
That evoked some sharp criticism from the pan-democratic camp, and Civic Party leader Alan Leong said Zhang’s comments raised the CE’s position to the level of an “emperor”.
Leung on Wednesday defended Zhang’s comments and said the chief executive wields a "transcendent" power beyond that of the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government, as he is the sole conduit of all political power conferred to Hong Kong by Beijing.
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Last updated: 2015-09-17 HKT 11:38
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1211889-20150917.htm
