Unpopular Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa (
Tung was named one of 24 vice chairmen of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a post usually given to officials near retirement. The body represents China's noncommunist groups and advises the ceremonial parliament.
The move appeared to confirm that Chinese leaders accepted Tung's resignation, which he submitted Thursday. He cited ill health and said it was his own decision to quit with two years left in his term, but he was widely believed to have been pushed by Beijing to leave.
Tung had been criticized for his handling of the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, a faltering economy and other problems. Many complained that he was indecisive and the Chinese government's puppet.
Tung's appointment was approved by a vote of 2,065 to 21 from CPPCC delegates holding the closing session of the body's annual meeting at the cavernous Great Hall of the People in central Beijing. There were 20 abstentions.
Tung, 67, was seated on stage with President Hu Jintao (
Delegates broke into loud, sustained applause when results were announced. Tung stood and gave a slight bow, then turned and shook hands with all the officials around him.
Also named as new vice chairmen of the CPPCC were Zhang Meiying and Zhang Rongming, both women.
Zhang Meiying, 61, is vice president of the All-China Women's Federation, the top state-supervised body charged with promoting women's rights. Zhang Rongming, also 61, is vice chairwoman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the official umbrella body for government-controlled unions.
Tung was Hong Kong's first leader following its 1997 return to Chinese sovereignty after 150 years of British colonial rule.
His Hong Kong job is to be filled temporarily by the territory's No. 2-ranking official, Donald Tsang (
Tung, a former shipping tycoon, was picked by an 800-member election committee dominated by Beijing loyalists.
He came under heavy criticism for pushing for an unpopular anti-subversion law that many feared threatened civil liberties, and for siding with Beijing to oppose a quicker transition to full democracy.
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