Quizzed over bid to become chief executive, John Tsang says he has ‘no such plan at present’
STUART.LAU@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Saturday, 16 April, 2016, 2:22pm
Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah is seen by pundits as posing one of the strongest possible threats to Leung Chun-yin. Photo: Edward Wong
Hong Kong finance chief John Tsang Chun-wah has refused to rule out the possibility of making a run to become the city’s next leader.
Financial Secretary Tsang – who rates consistently highly in public opinion polls – is seen by pundits as posing one of the strongest possible threats to incumbent Chief Executive Leung Chun-yin.
When asked if he would run for the top job in next year’s election, Tsang told NowTV: ‘’I have no such plan. I have no such plan at present.’’
His answer leaves the door open for him to seek backing from the 1,200-member nominating committee that chooses the chief executive.
Tsang added: “We will focus on how to best deliver our work at present, because the work is quite difficult.”
Chief Executive Leung Chun-yin. Photo: SCMP
Tsang, who turns 65 next week, was tipped as a potential dark horse candidate after Chinese President Xi Jinping shook his hand – and no one else’s – during the opening ceremony of the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank last June, not long after the end of the Occupy protests.
In the months since, the finance chief has appeared indifferent to suggestions he might run – while appearing to equivocate by saying he has ‘’no plan’’.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1936327/watch-out-cy-finance-chief-john-tsang-leaves-door-open-tilt
