HK Leader expected to retire?

[HenryTo]

Definitely not final yet but it is expected that he will retire soon. We will see.

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Hong Kong leader silent on reports he plans to retire
Hong Kong's unpopular Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa met Saturday with Chinese President Hu Jintao, but neither side gave any indication of whether Tung would quit.

Many in Hong Kong were watching the meeting for indications about Tung's future, amid widespread reports he would resign.

Meeting at the Beijing compound where China's leaders live, Hu congratulated Tung on his recent appointment to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference _ a top advisory body to the country's legislature.

"You have achieved experience in Hong Kong under the 'one country, two systems' policy, and I believe you will play an even more important role in the CPPCC," Hu said.

Expectations that Tung will soon retire as Hong Kong's leader have intensified since it was announced last week that he was joining the CPPCC. It was reported that he would be named one of the body's vice chairmen _ a title usually given to retired leaders.

Tung told the Chinese president: "I am honored to join the CPPCC and am very happy."

He said Hong Kong's economy rebounded quickly last year, and "unemployment is steadily declining, though at a slow rate."

Tung gave no hint of his plans after arriving in Beijing to attend the annual session of China's ceremonial legislature, which opened Saturday. Neither have communist leaders who picked him to lead the former British colony when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

"I believe he wishes to resign," said Victor Sit, a legislator who is a professor at Hong Kong University. However, he said, "When this will materialize is beyond ourselves."

Tung has struggled with complaints that he mishandled the local economy and his government's response to the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome and ignored calls for democratic reforms.

The lack of comment from Beijing about the resignation reports has angered democrats in Hong Kong who say they fear China may tamper with the territory's laws in picking someone to succeed Tung, who is two years short of finishing his second term.

Hong Kong is promised a high degree of autonomy by Beijing under the "one country, two systems" formula. But the chief executive is picked by an 800-member committee largely made up of people loyal to Beijing.

Tsang Tak-sing, a member of the Hong Kong government's Central Policy Unit, sought to allay worries.

"Of course in the whole institutional setup, public opinion counts," Tsang said.

Asked whether Tung has indicated what he'll do, he said, "No, not at all."

"Up to now, it's still hypothetical," he said.