Hong Kong's new leader was sworn in yesterday at a ceremony in Beijing, completing the first leadership change in the former British colony since it returned to Chinese rule eight years ago.
Donald Tsang (曾蔭權) took his oath of office in the cavernous Great Hall of the People, the seat of China's legislature, where he met with Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶).
Tsang replaced Tung Chee-hwa (董建華), who resigned in March citing failing health. Many believe that Tung was pushed out by Beijing, which had lost confidence in him.
PHOTO: EPA
Wen heaped praise on the veteran civil servant, saying Tsang will "unite all the people of Hong Kong, and have great achievements in making Hong Kong more prosperous and stable."
Tsang told Wen, "I'll definitely continue to work hard on the things the premier wants me to do for Hong Kong's future. I'll do everything that I can do to do what the country wants me to do for the well being of the Hong Kong people."
Tsang faces two major challenges: keeping the economic recovery on track and pleasing his Beijing masters who have rejected the public's calls for full democracy.
"We must upgrade governance in Hong Kong. We must create a more harmonious society," he told a news conference. "And we must concentrate on working on improving the livelihood of the Hong Kong people and the economy."
Tsang said on Tuesday that he would listen closely to the public and that he had already gone into the "streets and alleyways" to hear the people's stories.
Tsang overwhelmingly won the backing of an 800-member committee that selects the territory's chief executive.
Massive street protests have been held to demand direct elections, but China has ruled that Hong Kong isn't ready for full democracy. Tsang sides with Beijing on the issue, but said on Tuesday that a task force was considering political reforms for the 2007 leadership election.
Meanwhile, the territory's leadership election was undemocratic, uncompetitive and involved minimal participation from the public, a US think-tank said yesterday.
The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), which promotes democracy around the world, criticized the electoral process, calling it a "non-election."
"Hong Kong's chief executive election process, which unfolded under the watchful eye of Beijing, was not one that would have been recognized as democratic in much of the world," NDI said.
"The electoral process remains uncompetitive and participation in the process is still severely limited," it said in a report.
Tsang received so much support from the selection committee that he shut out all challengers, as did Tung when he was elected for his second term in 2002. Two other candidates were forced to pull out of the race after failing to win the support of the 100 delegates each needed to stand.
The Washington-based institute said it was clear that the election process would end at the nomination stage with Tsang as the sole nominee.
"If Hong Kong is to become truly democratic, its officials must be selected through the full participation of its people or appointed by persons who have been elected in open political competition," it said.
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