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Hong Kong's Leader to Seek Another Term

Posted on: Thursday, 1 February 2007, 03:00 CST

By DIKKY SINN

HONG KONG - Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang said Thursday he will seek another term - a five-year period that will likely bring growing pressure for full democracy and cleaner air in the Chinese territory.

The bowtie-wearing Tsang was widely expected to coast to victory because the leader, or chief executive, is chosen by an 800-member election committee loyal to Beijing.

China's leadership has praised Tsang, and his public approval ratings have been high amid an economic upturn. But he has been criticized for not doing more to clean up the severely polluted air. And many are growing impatient for political reform.

"No one is better qualified than I am to meet the challenges in the coming five years," Tsang said at a televised news conference.

"Like many Hong Kong people, I will not be satisfied with the present," he said. "I want to do my best in everything. I truly hope we could work together to advance Hong Kong to an improved new world."

Two pro-democracy supporters briefly disrupted the event when they shouted, "When will there be universal suffrage?" They were quickly escorted out of the venue.

Tsang is running against Alan Leong, a lawmaker who advocates universal suffrage for both the chief executive and legislative elections in 2012.

The event was briefly disrupted by pro-democracy supporters shouting, "When will there be universal suffrage?" They were quickly escorted out of the venue.

Tsang is running against Alan Leong, a pro-democracy lawmaker who advocates universal suffrage for both the chief executive and legislative elections in 2012.

Tsang said he favored "an open democratic political system." But he provided no specific plan about how and when Hong Kong should become fully democratic.

"It is important to come up with a plan," he said when pressed him for a timetable.

He said in the middle of 2007, a committee studying political reform would make proposals that would be open to public discussion. He said a plan would evolve out of that process.

Timothy Wong Ka-ying, a political science professor at Chinese University, said Tsang made no commitments to democratic reform in his speech Thursday.

Ma Ngok, a political analyst at Chinese University in Hong Kong, noted that Tsang can't pursue political change without Beijing's consent.

Since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997, it has been governed under a "one country, two systems" formula designed to give the territory a wide degree of autonomy.

Beijing has promised that Hong Kong would eventually get full democracy, but Chinese leaders have not provided a date for the political reform.

Tsang - a veteran civil servant - is Hong Kong's second chief executive since the return to Chinese rule. He took over from the unpopular Tung Chee-hwa, who resigned in 2005 midway through his second term. Tung said he was quitting because of failing health, but many believe Beijing lost confidence in him and fired him.

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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