Many adjectives describe Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang, but “bold” and “courageous” don’t apply.

On October 11, Tsang ventured into the Legislative Council and delivered a lightweight policy speech titled “Proactive, Pragmatic, Always People First”. His brief talk, lasting an hour, fell short on big issues.

Tsang enjoys calling himself “pragmatic”, code for “obedient to Beijing”. He spoke of pollution (while doing little about it), financial services, cross-border trade, kindergarten subsidies, domestic violence, movies and sports.

In doing so, he ignored the crucial issue of achieving real democracy, which most Hong Kong people crave, but Beijing detests. As a favor to tycoons and business interests, he avoided promising to legislate on minimum wages. Similarly, he neglected to discuss a planned sales tax, infrastructure projects and medical funding.

Some commentators likened Tsang’s polished presentation skills to those of Chris Patten, Hong Kong’s last British governor. But there’s a huge difference.

On crucial issues, Patten stood tall and tough. He promoted democratic progress. Tsang blocks it. Patten defended Hong Kong’s interests against Beijing. Tsang bows to the north. Patten riled business leaders with people-friendly policies. Tsang fits nicely into tycoons’ breast-pockets.

“Always People First”, says Tsang’s speech title. The only “first-place” folks hold sway in Beijing or in office boardrooms.

Tsang’s weaknesses and omissions leave people on the sidewalks feeling frustrated and helpless, yearning for the strong leadership last seen when Patten departed in 1997.

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