|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 6 March 2005 |
 |
|
 |
World |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
HK's Tung, said to have quit, to meet China's Hu HONG KONG, Saturday, Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa is to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday amid reports of his resignation which have sparked widespread fears that Beijing is meddling in the territory's affairs. Hu gave Tung an unprecedented public rebuke last December, telling him to reflect on his shortcomings during seven years in power which have triggered huge pro-democracy demonstrations. Sources said Tung had submitted his resignation to Beijing and it had been accepted by the Communist Party's ruling politburo, but officials on both sides declined comment. The uncertainty has sent Hong Kong into a frenzy of speculation and unnerved its financial markets. Tung's fate is expected to be sealed at the late afternoon meeting at the Chinese leadership's Zhongnanhai compound in Beijing. Some Chinese-language newspapers in Hong Kong speculated that Hu may urge him to stay on to avoid creating instability in the city. Tung also may meet Premier Wen Jiabao before returning to Hong Kong on Sunday, but any announcement on his future may not come until later in the week. Political analysts said a constitutional crisis could be looming over the question of how long Tung's successor will run Hong Kong. Sources told Reuters earlier this week that Beijing had picked Tung's deputy, Chief Secretary Donald Tsang, to succeed him. They said Tsang would serve out the remainder of Tung's term until mid-2007, and then another five years if he performed well. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
