Hong Kong
(AsiaNews) - Leung Chun-ying has become the least popular head of government in
the history of the former British colony since, in 1997, Hong Kong was returned
to mainland China. The
protests against the introduction of "national education classes ",
the indiscriminate increase in property prices and the flow of immigrants from
the mainland are the basis of the collapse of its popularity, that in less than
two months has lost about 50 percentage
points.
The
data was revealed by the public information program for the University of Hong
Kong. According
to Michael DeGolver, a professor at the Baptist university, Leung "is
facing the biggest challenges ever faced by a chief executive." Although
his predecessor Donald Tsang and Tung Chee-hwa fared no better: the popular
protests in 2005 forced the resignation Tung, while Tsang had to apologize to
the electorate for his "cosy" friendships with local financiers.
According
to the Territory constitution's, the Basic Law all that remains of the legacy
left by the British, Hong Kong must be governed until 2043 by a government -
led by the Chief Executive in fact - made up of members elected by the
population and others indicated by "electors ":
financial groups and politicians who actually appoint their own man. Leung
is believed to be hand in fist with the Chinese mainland, while for years the
Catholic Church and democrats have been fighting for universal suffrage.
The
collapse of his popularity is definitely linked to the introduction of
educational reform, which involves the insertion of classes of "national
education" in schools in Hong Kong. The
new should "enhance" the economic successes of mainland China without
discussing issues such as the Tiananmen Square crackdown or the human rights
situation in the country. Launched
by the central government in 2002, the reform was immediately opposed by the
Catholic Church, according to Cardinal Zen, it is a "brainwashing" of
students.
For
the past 8 days, thousands of people (parents, students, teachers and ordinary
citizens) are camped in the government district of Admiralty to ask the
government to backtrack. While
Beijing is in favor of the subject - the Minister Yuan Guiren "every
citizen has to follow the national education" - Leung said yesterday he is
ready to "take into account" the populations suggestions. For
the demonstrators this is another false opening ahead of the elections for the
Legislative Council to be held in a few days.