Hong Kong’s acting chief executive, Donald Tsang, said on Tuesday he is prepared to face a legal challenge over the decision to let the territory’s new leader serve only a two-year term.
Tsang told a special legislature meeting that the government is determined to see a new leader installed on July 10 following chief executive Tung Chee-hwa’s early resignation last week.
Tsang announced on Saturday that the leader chosen on July 10 by a pro-Beijing election committee will only serve out the remainder of Tung’s second five-year term.
Tsang himself is widely expected to stand with no serious opponent in the July election, although he has not yet confirmed that he will be a candidate.
Speaking to legislators, Tsang acknowledged there might be a legal challenge on the basis that Hong Kong’s mini-Constitution says a chief executive must serve a five-year term.
”Our lawyers are very smart in Hong Kong, so there is no profit for us to predict yet whether they will take the case to court,” he said.
”But we are determined to deal with the issue under any circumstances. If someone should take the case to court, we should bear in mind the common aspirations of the people of Hong Kong.
”We want to dispel all the uncertainties and market concerns so that we can elect our chief executive as soon as possible on July 10.”
Tsang added that he is confident the case will be given priority if it does come before the Hong Kong courts to avoid a delay in the election.
Beijing has made it clear it wants Tung’s successor to serve only the remainder of his term and has already given its tacit backing to Tsang for a ”trial” two years as chief executive.
Some Chinese officials are wary of bow-tied Tsang, who was a financial secretary under British colonial rule and was awarded a knighthood before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule in 1997.
Tung resigned early, saying his health had declined and he felt unable to complete his second term.
However, he is widely believed to have been edged out by Beijing, which was rattled by the sight of more than 500 000 people taking part in an anti-government protest in 2003. — Sapa-DPA