Agnes Lam ‘Referendum’ may hurt Beijing-MSAR relations

Commenting on the recent social movement to launch a civil referendum, a scholar from the University of Macau (UM) worries that the way to realizing universal suffrage might be more difficult if an atmosphere of “mistrust” is created between local and central political power.
Prof. Agnes Lam pointed out that the social campaign that was conducted by several groups under the name of a “civil referendum” might make relations between the Beijing government and MSAR more intense.
“There are many ways to do a public opinion survey, and many names can be used, but when you choose the name ‘civil referendum’, it will stimulate the nerve of the central government,” she noted.
She illustrated the methods that HK used in its struggle for genuine universal suffrage, stating that “the pan-democratic parties deem the central government won’t allow genuine universal suffrage while the central government worries that the pan-democratic parties will betray the country.”
Lam concluded that if a relationship of mistrust were formed, bilateral agreements could be hard to reach. “The negative impact is that, if there was mistrust between the central government and local political power, it might create difficulties (for the local region) to strive for universal suffrage. (…) When we realize the facts in the political world, no matter what we do to collect public opinions, we shouldn’t break the multi-trust relationship.”
Prof. Lam also added that both in HK and Macau’s cases, it’s not easy to conclude whether youth-run social movements suit the reality of society.
According to Prof. Lam, a two-party system is applied in many western countries such as the U.S. and U.K., in which both can be the country’s ruling party. “Therefore they have to be responsible for what they have promised. They can’t put forth things that are not feasible. Currently in HK and Macau however, there’s a deadlock that the majority know that they are not able to rule. (…) Winning enough votes (in elections) simply could mean that the person meets the ‘social reality’, but whether this ‘reality’ is good for the long-term operation of society, doubts remain.”
Agnes Lam was speaking at the Macau Youth Summit held at Fisherman’s Wharf yesterday.
Joined by about 200 Macau college students studying overseas, the Summit covered the circumstances of Macau politics, business and careers.
José Pereira Coutinho, the other speaker in the political panel, singled out the lack of political education in the non-tertiary system in Macau. He criticized the 2011-2020 plan from the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau for not including political education. “Young people in Macau will have difficulties gaining contact with social problems. If they don’t understand the political structure (in Macau), they may find out that society is unfair.”
Prof. Lam agreed with Coutinho that there’s room for improvement in terms of the education system.
Held for the first time, the Summit was organized by the Macau Public Affairs Society (United Kingdom) and the Luso-Macanese Students’ Association, with the aim of providing Macau students overseas with information about Macau, as well as to develop social networks within the city.