Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa (
Local newspapers splashed Tung's resignation across their front pages, but the governments in both Beijing and Hong Kong refused to confirm or deny whether the territory's first post-colonial leader was stepping aside.
Reports said Tung, handpicked by Beijing to be Hong Kong chief executive in 1997, handed in his resignation last month citing poor health. The Standard newspaper said it had been accepted by the Communist Party's ruling politburo.
Analysts said Tung's decision was likely hastened by a Chinese leadership eager to bring an end to an unpopular administration which has rocked the confidence of the free-wheeling territory of 7 million people.
The South China Morning Post said Tung could be out of office by the end of this month, adding that civil service chief Donald Tsang (
Tung declined to confirm or deny that he plans to resign, telling reporters in Beijing that he will make any announcements at "an appropriate time."
The Chinese government in Beijing also declined to comment. "No, we have not heard that news," said an official from the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.
Speculation that Tung, who was born with silver chopsticks in his hand as the son of a Shanghai shipping tycoon, could step down early has been intense since he was appointed Monday to fill a senior honorary political post in China.
The Standard said Tung would announce his resignation immediately after his confirmation as vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Consultative Conference (CPCC) on March 12.
Tung, 67, has had a torrid time since taking office in 1997.
The first years of his tenure coincided with the Asian financial crisis, record unemployment in Hong Kong and a crash in the city's property market which hit many ordinary citizens hard.
His possible early exit has been mooted since 2003 when his government was plunged into crisis after more than 500,000 people took to the streets to protest proposed anti-subversion laws proposed by China.
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