Beijing clearly wants its man to stay on
It may have been likened to a visit to the headmaster's office in some quarters beforehand, but Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa got what he wanted yesterday - the central government's vote of confidence in him and his administration.
He received the kind of reception normally accorded to a visiting head of state, with President Hu Jintao, Vice-President Zeng Qinghong, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice-Premier Wu Yi all there to meet him.
Hong Kong's ever-eager press pack was initially puzzled when Mr Hu spent the time at the photo call held before the start of their meeting chatting with Mr Tung about Hong Kong's efforts to contain Sars - avoiding questions about the biggest political crisis Hong Kong has faced since 1997.
But any doubts were removed later in the day when Xinhua released an uncharacteristically long report, detailing the closed-door meetings with Mr Tung.
Mr Hu said the central government would pledge 'resolute support'nd 'try every means' to support the Tung administration and safeguard social stability in Hong Kong.
The message is clear: the central government wants Mr Tung to stay on despite the rising pressure in Hong Kong for him to step down.
Analysts say Mr Hu and Mr Wen used their meetings to strengthen Mr Tung's resolve to resist political pressure while promising more economic support for Hong Kong.
Mr Hu also used the meeting to spell out the central government's stance on other major issues facing Hong Kong, aiming to clear up the confusion and dampen increasing demands for political liberalisation.
He stressed the adoption of a 'gradual approach' to Hong Kong's political system - clearly a response to calls for early implementation of universal suffrage.
Mr Hu also made it quite clear that the central government would still like to see the controversial national security act passed.
An indirect criticism of Mr Tung's administration came in the shape of a call for the chief executive and his administration to do 'a better job' in rallying the people, caring for the will of the people and improving governance.
Clearly, the central government has reached the conclusion that Hong Kong is becoming highly politicised and any further changes in a liberal direction would threaten stability.
