Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Antony Leung (
His remarks were indicative of the difficulties that he encounters as a Hong Kong government official compared to his experience as a businessman -- that he stressed he supports exchanges between Hong Kong and Taiwan "personally" -- but must bow to pressure from Beijing.
Leung worked for two major international banks before joining the government.
He spent 23 years with Citicorp, rising to senior management with job postings in Hong Kong, New York, Singapore and Manila.
He joined the Chase Manhattan Corp in 1996 (renamed J.P. Morgan Chase & Co in 2000), rising to become the bank's Asia-Pacific chairman.
"I was a businessman. I fully understand the importance of ex-changes among regions. This is a globalization era -- the competition will not be limited to within nations, but regions," Leung said.
He has rarely had contact with reporters from Taiwan since he assumed his current job on May 1 last year.
The interview he gave the delegation last week was his first with reporters from Taiwan.
"Since Hong Kong returned to China in 1997, most Hong Kong government officials have declined to have contact with Taiwan's representatives in Hong Kong," said Taiwanese representatives in Hong Kong who wish to remain anonymous.
Although Chinese authorities claimed that Hong Kong's special status would be maintained for 50 years, the reality has been different.
However, Leung stressed that he has not received advice nor suggestions from Beijing regarding his policies.
He has gained a reputation for political agility and has been mentioned as a possible successor to Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa (董建華) when Tung has to step down in 2007.
However, Leung has stirred controversy by trying to reduce Hong Kong's budget deficit by cutting the pay of civil servants by 4 percent. The move prompted a demonstration by an estimated 30,000 people in July.
Timothy Wong (王家英), research officer of the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies said that "the high payroll costs of Hong Kong's civil service is the most difficult problem to resolve. That's why the policy is so controversial, because most civil servants would not willingly give up the benefits they enjoy."
Leung's idea of developing Hong Kong into a high-tech zone also came under a lot of criticism.
But it is not just his financial policies that have Hong Kong residents buzzing about the 51-year old Leung.
His love life has become a hot topic in the territory's media.
His new wife, China's four-time Olympic gold-medalist diver Fu Mingxia (伏明霞), is half his age.
When and how she will receive permission to live in Hong Kong with her husband is the topic of much speculation since most mainland Chinese must wait for years to win permission to join their families or spouses.
Last week Fu announced she was dropping plans to study at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, following allegations that the university had failed to follow normal admission procedures in accepting her application.
Responding to questions from Taiwanese reporters about the intense media scrutiny, Leung said, "I've gotten used to it."
"I don't answer personal questions," he stressed.
However, he automatically mentioned Fu while discussing the consumption habits of China's middle class, saying, "I am pretty sure that the growing middle class in the mainland shares the same tastes as their counterparts in other developed countries, because I have one [Fu] in my family."
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