Posted on 03/02/2005 7:05:52 PM PST by nickcarraway
Hong Kong was awash with talk Wednesday that China-appointed leader Tung Chee Hwa looks set to step down after more than seven stormy years at the helm.
The unpopular leader reportedly cited health reasons for cutting short his five-year term, marked by two massive pro-democracy protests and calls for his resignation.
Media reports said Beijing accepted his resignation a few days ago and would make Chief Secretary Donald Tsang acting chief executive.
News of the resignation was splashed on the front pages of major newspapers here.
Neither Hong Kong nor Chinese officials would comment on the reports.
Mr Tung, in Beijing to attend the opening of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) today, provided a strong hint when he did not deny the reports.
Instead he told reporters: 'I know that you all have a lot of questions. I will give everyone an explanation at the appropriate time.'
The buzz started on Monday, when he was appointed a member of the CPPCC, China's top advisory body.
He is expected to become one of the body's 25 vice-chairmen, a status equal to that of a senior state official.
CPPCC spokesman Wu Jianmin Wednesday hinted at the possibility that Mr Tung would step down if made a vice-chairman when he said that the CPPCC position was a full-time job.
'The work of the CPPCC is quite heavy. The leaders of the CPPCC are playing a very important role in China's political life,' he said when asked whether officials who become CPPCC vice-chairmen were required to retire or could continue with their current jobs.
'The CPPCC job is a full-time job,' he added.
Wednesday's reports caught observers by surprise, with some saying Beijing had no plans to remove the Hong Kong leader mid-way through his term.
Some people said there was reason to believe the reports.
Said Mr Ma Lik, chairman of the pro-Beijing party Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong: 'There are too many sources, too many people saying it, so it may be true.'
Hong Kong stocks fell sharply Wednesday, but market analysts said news of the resignation was only a minor factor.
Morgan Stanley chief Asia economist Andy Xie said economic sentiments might improve further when it is confirmed Mr Tung is leaving.
'The economy is doing well right now, and perhaps that's why Beijing thinks it's a good time to make political changes,' he said.
A Hong Kong government official, who declined to be named, said that Beijing might want to take advantage of the current calm to name its own man to the chief executive post.
'It could be the best time to appoint someone to the position without as much hassle,' he said.
Speculation is rife as to who will replace Mr Tung. Many believe Mr Tsang, his No. 2, is the strongest of the contenders, who include Financial Secretary Henry Tang, Education Secretary Arthur Li and executive councillor Leung Chun Ying.
Under Article 53 of Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, a new leader shall be selected within six months by an elite 800-member Election Committee and be appointed by the central government within six months. The new leader then starts a five-year term.
There was someone on this board or in some post about a month ago claiming that Beijing had not changed anything in Hong Kong.... which is bunk of course.
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