Dump C. Y. Leung. That was an opposition leader’s reply when asked how to reverse the rise of radical localism in an already divided society. OK, so Beijing installs Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah as chief executive. He is now the darling of the opposition for his localist gestures of backing the Hong Kong soccer team against the mainland and for a budget handout to Hong Kong’s Cantonese film industry. Even missile-hurling lawmakers played nice during his budget speech. But will independence-minded localists ditch demands for self-rule if Tsang is chief executive? Will the opposition still applaud him when hit with the harsh fact he is as powerless as Leung Chun-ying to deliver so-called true democracy?

Get real, everyone. Whoever is chief executive must toe Beijing’s line on matters that impact on the country. The opposition is dreaming if it thinks Tsang can coax Beijing to allow an election framework that could produce a chief executive it distrusts. Once this reality sinks in, whoever is chief executive will again become a target of scorn. So it was with Tung Chee-hwa, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, and Leung. And so it will be with John Tsang.

Don’t forget that banana-throwing began during Donald Tsang’s time, not Leung’s. The now-loved John Tsang has also been a target of missiles and eggs. When Tung couldn’t deliver what the opposition demanded, it wanted him out. Donald Tsang was mocked when he too couldn’t deliver. When the media exposed Henry Tang Ying-yen’s illegal basement, the opposition preferred Leung as Beijing’s anointed one. Now he is reviled.

John Tsang as chief executive will likely be less confrontational than the hated Leung on domestic issues such as the copyright bill. But that doesn’t mean the opposition will reciprocate. It won’t dare for fear of losing support among young voters, radicals and internet users who now call the shots in the democracy movement. He will be seen as much as Beijing’s puppet as Leung on political reforms because he doesn’t call the shots. Beijing does.

Nothing can fix our divided society until we come to terms with the fact that Beijing has a say in our affairs. It can do it with a light touch or a heavy hand. Expect a fist if it feels our politics are undermining Hong Kong or risking national security. We are already seeing a glimpse of that fist. Be prepared to see more because we have become even less accepting of the fact that Beijing has a say.