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HK's Tsang wants to set a date for universal suffrage

Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang (曾蔭權) has indicated he will set a date for the introduction of universal suffrage to the territory soon after the start of his expected second term, a report said yesterday.

The Beijing-backed chief executive, widely presumed to be seeking a second term from a heavily weighted election committee in March, said he hoped to set a date sooner rather than later.

"I really hope that as soon as the term begins, we will be able to chart out what we want to do," he told the South China Morning Post.

"It will be rather too late if it comes by the end of the term" in 2012, he added.

Citizens of the former British colony do not have the right to vote for their leader and can choose only half of the 60-member legislature by direct vote.

Democracy is a vexed issue here, bringing around half-a-million protesters on to the streets in 2003 and 2004. Pro-democracy candidates won about 60 percent of the popular vote in 2004 assembly elections.

Tsang, who took over from the unpopular Tung Chee-hwa (董建華) in June 2005 and whose current term expires in June, said he was optimistic about introducing the vote despite needing Beijing's approval.

"I need [Beijing's] trust in order to develop universal suffrage. The more suspicions being expressed, the more difficulty we'll have in moving towards the final destination," he said.

"I'm optimistic. There are a lot of people with goodwill in the community and Legco [Legislative Council]."

Tsang, who has yet to declare formally his candidacy, also spoke of his hope that Hong Kong would assert itself as East Asia's international financial hub.
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