ABSTRACT
The correct analysis of any public policy issue ultimately rests on a frame of reference, underscored by fundamental value postulates and informed by basic factual assumptions. It is postulated that a "satisfactory" resolution of a public issue does not necessarily follow from a "correct" analysis of the (constitutional, legal, political, and social) issues in the case. An acceptable frame of reference for "Big Spender" debate should elevate the level of public discourse as it recasts the direction, nature, and content of arguments, to seek accommodation from all stakeholders in the "Big Spender" debate: the People's Republic of China (PRC) versus Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) versus Hong Kong people. The political elite and legal professionals in Hong Kong would have had the public believe that the "Big Spender" jurisdictional dispute was solely a dispute about the correct interpretation and application of the Basic Law.
