If one day is a long time in politics, how about 100? Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has just 77 days to go before reaching that symbolic target. But a chaotic start to his term, after he was sworn in on July 1, has led to speculation that Beijing is considering a plan B - replacing him if he fails to put his house in order by mid-October, when he will reach 100 days in office.
Two pro-Beijing heavyweights - Legislative Council president Tsang Yok-sing and Cheng Yiu-tong, the honorary president of the Federation of Trade Unions and a member of the Executive Council, the chief executive's top advisory body - have ruled out any notion of a plan B.
Tsang, who once expressed an intention to run for chief executive, last week strongly ruled out any possibility that he was Beijing's 'plan B' candidate when grilled by the media. Cheng accused those of speculating about Leung's replacement as being ignorant of China's politics.
'Compared with a five-year term, 100 days is very brief,' Cheng said. 'How can Beijing give him such a short probation period?'
Tsang and Cheng's response merely added fuel to the fire, triggering more political gossip. Is the speculation about Leung's early departure a reasonable guess in a messy situation? Or does it reflect wishful thinking on the part of certain people who apparently still do not accept Leung's appointment as chief executive?
It will be interesting to see what does happen as Leung approaches the 100-day mark.