Li gives his 'absolute support' for Tsang second term
Li Ka-shing yesterday gave his 'absolute support' for Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's re-election as chief executive, saying the former civil servant had done a good job and served the city wholeheartedly.
Asked whether he backed Mr Tsang's bid for a second term in next year's election, the tycoon said: 'I absolutely support him. I think he has been doing his job wholeheartedly and has done quite well.'
It was the first time he had publicly backed Mr Tsang since the former chief secretary succeeded Tung Chee-hwa as chief executive last June. Describing Mr Tsang as impartial and competent, Mr Li described his performance as 'quite good'.
He was speaking at the announcement of the annual results of his two flagship companies, Cheung Kong (Holdings) and Hutchison Whampoa.
Cheung Kong reported a 30.79 per cent rise in net profit for the year to December to $13.99 billion, up from $10.7 billion in 2004. Hutchison reported net profit up 10.51 per cent to $14.34 billion.
In March last year, as Mr Tsang sought to replace Mr Tung, the tycoon described him as having the 'noble qualities' required of the city's top leader. Several tycoons, including Mr Li's younger son and PCCW chairman Richard Li Tzar-kai, casino mogul Stanley Ho Hung-sun and Chan Wing-kee, former chairman of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, last month backed Mr Tsang's bid for a second term.
Mr Li's backing for Mr Tsang came as a University of Hong Kong survey found the chief executive scored a popularity rating of 67.9 out of a possible 100 marks.
According to the latest poll, conducted between March 13 and last Friday by the university's public opinion programme, 72 per cent of 1,010 respondents supported Mr Tsang as the chief executive.
Civic Party leader Audrey Eu Yuet-mee said Mr Li's remarks would not deter people from taking part in the chief executive election, as the poll was not fair in any case.
The chairman of the Liberal Party, James Tien Pei-chun, said it was 'only Mr Li's personal view, which doesn't represent the business sector'.
Mr Li also said Chief Secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan was right in warning on Monday that Hong Kong should face the possibility of the city being marginalised by rapid Pearl River Delta development.
