The Beijing leadership's praise for Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang (曾蔭權) on his reappointment contains veiled warnings for the future, observers said on Tuesday.
Tsang won a second term in a vote last month by an election committee of 800 elites who are mostly loyal to Beijing.
In a political atmosphere where symbols and inferences can mean as much as spoken words, comments from Chinese President Hu Jintao (
The former civil service chief was first chosen in 2005 to complete the truncated second term Tung Chee-hwa (董建華), who resigned early, citing poor health.
At a ceremony later in the afternoon, Tsang was greeted by Hu at the Zhongnanhai leaders' complex and praised for his work so far.
Hu also made an unprecedented reference to a long-raging debate over the introduction of universal suffrage in Hong Kong.
"Developing the economy, improving livelihoods and advancing democracy in a gradual and orderly manner; maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity, stability and harmony are the common wishes of Hong Kong citizens as well as the fundamental interests of Hong Kong people from all walks of life," Hu told Tsang.
While local media interpreted Hu's words as a boost for reformists who have long fought for full democracy, analysts urged caution.
"You have to read between the lines," said Joseph Cheng (鄭宇碩), professor of political science at Hong Kong City University.
Hong Kong's post-colonial Constitution, the Basic Law, enshrines a move to universal suffrage, but doesn't state how or when it should happen.
Reformists want a swift change and have accused the China-backed government of dragging its feet.
The feud has dogged Hong Kong politics since the territory was handed back to China in 1997 and Tsang promised ahead of his re-selection that he would settle the matter once and for all.
"Of course the central leadership is going to say encouraging things about universal suffrage because if it doesn't show progress on this to the rest of the world -- which is waiting for it to happen -- then it will lose face," Cheng said.
"The central leadership is happy for universal suffrage to be established so long as it keeps control of the process," he said.
Chinese leaders' gestures are keenly watched for signals into the thinking of the largely secretive Communist power structure.
A handshake from Hu during a meeting with then civil service head Tsang in 2004 was interpreted as a sign that he had been chosen as successor to Tung, whose low opinion ratings were being seen as a handicap to his rule. Tung resigned a few months later.
In another encounter that has been the subject of keen interpretation, Wen read to Tsang an extract from the Confucian Analects.
"Benevolence is the responsibility he has taken upon himself: is it not heavy? Only after his death does it end: is it not long?" Wen read.
The passage has been generally interpreted as a call for Tsang to devote his life to the service of Hong Kong, but pro-democrats see dire warnings in the words.
"I fear it meant Tsang should try his best to introduce Beijing's most unpopular policies," Democratic Party lawmaker Albert Ho (
Hong Kong University politics lecturer Lam Wai-man (
"It could be a recognition of the hope the Chinese leaders have in Tsang -- that they want him to continue until he dies -- or it could mean that they are putting great expectations onto his shoulders," Lam said.
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