Exco must engage with public

When the controversy over Hong Kong Television Network (HKTV) not being granted a free-to-air TV licence started, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said secrecy in Executive Council policy decisions was part of Hong Kong's system of governance under the "one country, two systems" principle.

A motion to invoke Legco's powers to make Exco explain its decision on the awarding of only two instead of three free-to-air licences would have been a departure from this pre-1997 Exco tradition if passed.

Before Legco debated it, the media reported the names of Exco members who supported a third licence, for HKTV. If the reports were accurate, this was clearly a breach of the confidentiality rule on Exco's deliberations.

Public demonstrations supporting HKTV had reached a high pitch, to the extent that a pro-establishment political party successfully negotiated with the chief executive for the government to release a statement on the eve of the Legco debate giving a number of reasons why HKTV was not awarded a licence.

The Legco motion was defeated following strong lobbying by the administration of pro-government legislators.

After the Legco debate, one or two unofficial Exco members were reported by the media to have said the licence controversy stemmed from a huge discrepancy between Exco's decision and public expectations and there was a need to review how public opinion could be better gauged.