Hong Kong Speculates Over Tung’s Future As Chief Executive

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

03 March 2005

Speculation over Tung Chee-hwa’s future as Hong Kong’s leader is growing after the Chief Executive accepted a position as a delegate to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top advisory body.

The move has been interpreted by many observers as a sign that Tung will step down from his position as Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region, which he has held since the British handover in 1997, before his term expires in 2007.

Chan Wing-kee, a Hong Kong member of the CPPCC Standing Committee, told the local media earlier in the week that a move to a more senior post on the committee for Tung would not only boost the profile of Hong Kong, but give more authority to the Chief Executive's position.

However, this has not stopped political analysts from speculating on Tung's likely successor, especially when he refused to deny reports of his impending resignation whilst departing for Beijing yesterday.

Under Hong Kong’s Basic Law, the departure of Tung from the post of Chief Executive could mean that Donald Tsang, the chief secretary of administration, would assume the role for up to six months.

Next in line for the job in the event that Tsang turned down the opportunity would be the Financial Secretary Henry Tang and the Justice Secretary Elsie Leung. A permanent successor to Tung would be selected within this transition period.

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