Tung Chee-hwa (L) says Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (inset) should continue in his post while Liberal Party leader James Tien (R) says Leung should consider resigning due to governance failure. Photos: HKEJ
Leung will complete his term; resignation no solution: Tung
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying will complete his term, Hong Kong’s former leader Tung Chee-hwa said on Friday, adding that there is no need for Leung to resign over the current political crisis in the city.
“It’s for sure that CY Leung will complete his term, and his resignation is not a good solution for ending the political standoff,” Tung told reporters, according to RTHK.
However, he declined to speculate whether Leung will seek a second term, the report said.
Tung, meanwhile, urged the pro-democracy protesters to end their street blockade.
“The occupation is approaching one month and now it’s the time to end it,” he said, while also expressing worries that the civil disobedience movement was “getting out of control”.
“We should not destroy the rule of law while pursuing democracy.”
The occupation has hurt Hong Kong’s economy, affected people’s livelihood, violated the law and torn the society apart, said Tung, who is also a vice-chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a top political advisory body in China.
In addition, he warned that the protest has damaged Hong Kong’s relationship with mainland. It is “imperative” to rebuild the mutual-trust between Hong Kong and mainland, Tung said, pointing out that the economic power of the city is on the wane.
Hong Kong’s gross domestic product used to amount to 16 percent of China’s at one time, but now represents only 3 percent, according to him.
“In civilized societies, conflicts are resolved through dialogue, not in streets. Students should not use the occupation as bargaining chips for negotiation with the government,” Tung said.
“Your aspirations have been heard and I fully understand what you are fighting for,” he said, aiming his remarks at the students involved in the Occupy campaign.
The demand for public nomination of candidates for the 2017 chief executive election “goes against the Basic Law and the decision of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee. It can’t be achieved,” Hong Kong’s former leader said.
Meanwhile, Liberal Party leader James Tien Pei-chun said in a separate event that he generally agrees with Tung’s remarks but pointed out that Hong Kong’s biggest problem is not the Occupy protests or universal suffrage but a failure in governance.
CY Leung should consider resigning as he failed to govern the city smoothly, Tien said, according to RTHK.
Civic Party leader Alan Leong Kah-kit said Tung is the wrong person to lecture students about the Occupy protests as he was the one who did not promote universal suffrage for the 2007/08 elections.
Tung doesn’t understand the latest situation in Hong Kong as he has been out of touch with the public, Leong said.
– Contact us at english@hkej.com
JZ/JP/RC
http://www.ejinsight.com/20141024-leung-will-complete-his-term-says-tung-chee-hwa/
