Standing committee member points to Leung Chun-ying’s low ratings and his failure to fully implement his election manifesto
STUART.LAU@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Tuesday, 15 March, 2016, 10:09pm
National People’;s Congress delegate Rita Fan (right) criticises the performance of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. Photos: Sam Tsang, David Wong
Beijing will consider alternative candidates in the race for Hong Kong’s top job next year if Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying remains unpopular among the public, a pro-Beijing heavyweight said.
The comments were made by National People’s Congress standing committee member Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai towards the end of the two-week annual meeting of the NPC and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in Beijing.
Little sign was given by mainland officials during the sessions on Leung’s prospects for re-election.
Fan, who backed Leung’s rival Henry Tang Ying-yen in the 2012 poll, delivered a harsh summary of Leung’s four years, calling his effort to unite different political factions “ineffective” and the emergence of other pro-establishment contenders “a good thing” in interviews with several broadcasters.
“I guess the central government will look for more alternative possibilities,” Fan told RTHK.
While she said Leung as the incumbent would enjoy certain advantages, “everyone knows that Leung’s popularity rating can’t go up.”
Leung would need to “make greater efforts” in the remainder of his term if he wanted to keep his job, Fan said, suggesting that he should realise his election platform.
She added that the chief executive had not been too effective in forming the “Hong Kong camp” – the pledge made on his election day to unite different political factions.
Asked if she would back Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah, Fan told TVB that he had been criticised for conservative financial policies but was capable of maintaining Hong Kong’s financial stability.
Responding to Fan’s comments, Leung did not say whether he would seek re-election, but said “several key issues” in his platform, such as housing, land supply, poverty and education, had been dealt with.
For those not yet achieved, he said he would “continue to work hard” in the coming year.
Another possible candidate is executive councillor Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who pulled out of the 2012 election because she did not receive enough nominations.
NPC delegate Michael Tien Puk-sun, also of the New People’s Party chaired by Ip, suggested she would not run in September’s Legislative Council election if she were to vie for the top job.
Beijing’s blessing is seen as crucial in the election as most of the 1,200 people who can vote are Beijing loyalists.
The election has dominated media attention during the “two sessions” in Beijing, which end today. NPC deputy Maria Tam Wai-chu started the debate by suggesting a chief executive should serve a 10-year tenure, while CPPCC delegate Vincent Lo Hong-sui showed support for Leung.
Wang Guangya, director of Beijing’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, called it “premature” to comment on the election.
Others were less vocal in supporting Leung. Unionist lawmaker Chan Yuen-han called Leung “arrogant”. CPPCC standing committee member Anthony Wu Ting-yuk, while praising Leung as a “capable” man, said the candidate who wins the next election should engage the public more proactively than the current administration.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1925682/beijing-may-consider-alternative-candidates-2017-hong-kong
