China: Hong Kong's leader, besieged by calls to resign, will be seeking crucial backing today when he visits Chinese leaders who have been alarmed by massive protests and calls for greater democracy in the city
Reeling from a loss of public confidence in his government, Mr Tung Chee-hwa needs fresh endorsement and support from his political masters, who command far more respect in Hong Kong than he does, analysts say.
"Most people in Hong Kong, even the elite, now hold the consensus that he is unfit to govern. So he really needs the open support of Beijing. It holds the trump card," said Mr Li Pang-kwong, a politics lecturer at Lingnan University.
Mr Tung is expected to meet the President, Mr Hu Jintao and the Premier, Mr Wen Jiabao, in Beijing to discuss Hong Kong's worst political crisis in years and his plans to revive the sickly economy. He is also expected to seek China's blessings for the new security and financial secretaries after two of his top ministers resigned, adding to political uncertainty in the city.
Widely seen as stubborn and distant, Mr Tung faces growing calls to quit over the government's plan to enact a controversial anti-subversion law, a string of policy blunders, the recent SARS outbreak and its failure to revive the sickly economy.
Hundreds of thousands of people took part in a series of protests in recent weeks to express their rage, shocking Beijing. It is the biggest political crisis in years in Hong Kong, the former British colony handed back to China in 1997.
Adding to Mr Tung's woes, the government said on Thursday unemployment had surged to a record 8.6 per cent and economists expect more people will lose their jobs in coming months.
On Wednesday, the Security Secretary and the Financial Secretary resigned, raising more questions about the administration.
China's leaders are expected to reaffirm support for the Hong Kong government, but possibly not Mr Tung himself, as a tacit acknowledgement that he has not done a good enough job, analysts say. Privately, he could face a dressing down for allowing public unrest to fester to the point where the survival of the government has been threatened.
Despite widespread anger with Mr Tung's China-backed administration, public opinion of Chinese leaders in Hong Kong remains high. Though many worry China could meddle in its affairs and erode basic rights, they are also acutely aware that China and its booming economy offer Hong Kong a chance for economic salvation after years of stagnation.
Mr Tung said on Thursday he would not resign and promised a new era of openness, with a new round of public consultation to be held on the subversion bill.
"If Mr Tung steps down, the Communist Party will be yielding to the democrats and a sign they did not manage Hong Kong well," said an analyst in mainland China who follows Hong Kong affairs.
But some political observers in Hong Kong say his days in power may be numbered. "After the passage of the bill, they may let him go, giving health reasons," a senior government official said.
Hong Kong newspapers yesterday were largely dismissive of Mr Tung's pledge to be more responsive, with some saying nothing short of universal suffrage would be needed to defuse the crisis. "Only a directly elected chief executive will understand the principle that the citizens are the real masters, understand that it is the right of the people to make decisions, and really listen to the wishes of the people," the Apple Daily said. - (Reuters)