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Acting Hong Kong Leader Takes Over
2005-03-12
HONG KONG - Donald Tsang, a career civil servant, took over as Hong Kong's leader Saturday, facing the tough task of pleasing a public that wants more democracy while obeying Communist Chinese rulers who have opposed calls for greater freedom.Tsang said that all the Cabinet members have asked to continue serving and he would be the acting leader until a new one is elected on July 10. Under the law, the leader is elected by an 800-member committee, dominated by people loyal to Beijing. Tsang would only be Hong Kong's second leader since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule eight years ago. He replaces the much-maligned Tung Chee-hwa, who quit two days ago citing failing health. China's top leaders approved Tung's resignation earlier Saturday following his appointment to a government advisory panel that provided a face-saving departure after eight tumultuous years. Tsang said he was grateful to Tung ``for his selfless leadership'' and the former leader's ``contributions to Hong Kong deserve our recognition and thanks.'' Tsang, who is expected to run in the election, said the winner of that vote would serve until the next originally scheduled election in 2007. Tsang faces serious challenges, including balancing the desires of pro-democracy groups and pro-Beijing lawmakers and leading a Cabinet that might contain politicians who want his job, analysts said. ``If he can't carry out a major reshuffle in the Cabinet, can he gain other ministers' confidence and secure their loyalty to him?'' said Ivan Choy, a political analyst at the Chinese University. The economy also is facing serious competition from booming cities in southern China that are trying to surpass Hong Kong as a logistics and services hub. Ma Ngok, a politics professor at the University of Science and Technology, said Tsang will likely resign in May to run for chief executive and won't have time to make many changes. ``He will act more like a guardian of the government. There will unlikely be major policy changes,'' Ma told Hong Kong network Cable TV. In Beijing, a meeting of the State Council, China's cabinet, approved Tung's request to step down for health reasons, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Earlier Saturday, Tung was named one of 24 vice chairmen of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a post usually given to officials near retirement. The body represents China's noncommunist groups and advises the ceremonial parliament. Tung, 67, said it was his own decision to quit with two years left in his term, but he was widely believed to have been pushed by Beijing to leave. Tung was criticized for his handling of the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS, a faltering economy and other problems. Many complained that he was indecisive and the Chinese government's puppet. Tung's appointment was approved by a vote of 2,065 to 21 from CPPCC delegates holding the closing session of the body's annual meeting at the cavernous Great Hall of the People in central Beijing. AP
Lawmaker chides Beijing for favoring acting Hong Kong leader (2005-04-03)HK's Tsang denies any Beijing interference (2005-03-15)Acting Hong Kong Leader Takes Over (2005-03-12)New Hong Kong leader supports China's line on Taiwan (2005-03-12)Donald Tsang named HK's acting chief (2005-03-12)
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