The Hindu : International : Hong Kong: Tsang elected unopposed

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Friday, Jun 17, 2005

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International

Hong Kong: Tsang elected unopposed

P. S. Suryanarayana

Faces the challenge of mollifying "pro-democracy" activists

— PHOTO: AP

Donald Tsang

SINGAPORE: Donald Tsang, Hong Kong's former Chief Secretary and a one-time Acting Chief Executive, was on Thursday declared elected unopposed to the highest position in the Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

Mr. Tsang, whose acceptability ratings in sample surveys are 70 per cent, will be formally appointed by the Central Government in Beijing as the Chief Executive.

Being the second person to hold the position since Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty from British colonial rule, Mr. Tsang's term will be about two years, as of now. He will complete the remainder period of the term of Tung Chee Hwa, who resigned as Chief Executive on March 10 on grounds of ill-health.

Mr. Tsang was the only one, in a field of six, whose nomination was assessed valid. The nomination deadline ended on Thursday. He was nominated by 674 members of the 800-strong Election Committee - the electoral college in all but name.

Suave civil servant

Known to have been a suave civil servant, during the colonial period as also under Mr. Tung's stewardship, he faces the challenge of mollifying the "pro-democracy" campaigners who remained disaffected with the previous Chief Executive.

The "pro-democracy" activists, with the often-tacit and sometimes-open support of the West, allege that the principle of "One country, Two systems," on the basis of which Hong Kong is run under the overall direction of Beijing, is incompatible with their demand of universal suffrage. Mr. Tsang's task is to harmonise Beijing's control over Hong Kong with the political aspirations of the "pro-democracy" activists, according to observers.

Stress on dialogue

AFP reports:

Mr. Tsang (61) thanked its members for their support as well as the people of Hong Kong. ``The election has been an exhilarating experience for me. I shall treasure it dearly,'' he told reporters.

``The dialogue that I have started with various sectors of the community will not be a one-off exercise."

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