Elsie was 'adamant' about quitting

Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie was adamant she would step down from the post when her contract expired in June but appears to have been persuaded to change her mind in recent weeks, a government source said yesterday.

'All along, up until a few weeks ago, she very much wanted to call it a day when her existing contract expires,' he said. 'She has indicated this to a lot of people, including, I am sure, the Chief Executive.'

The source said that although he did not know the current position, he believed reports that Ms Leung had been persuaded by Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa to extend her contract were likely to be true.

'I do not think Mr Tung had time to look at these things before he was re-elected. I think he has now looked into it. I don't know exactly what happened but I think he has spoken to her. It looks as if something has been worked out.'

The pro-Beijing Wen Wei Po newspaper reported this week that Ms Leung, 63, had been persuaded by Mr Tung to extend her contract. Another report has suggested she may step down after two years rather than remaining in the post for all of Mr Tung's second five-year term.

This has not been confirmed or denied by the Department of Justice, which has simply stated that an announcement on the matter will be made by the Government in due course.

The chairman of the Bar Association, Alan Leong Kah-kit, SC, said: 'Mr Tung is certainly trying to persuade Elsie to stay.' But he said his understanding was that Ms Leung had not yet confirmed she had agreed to do so.