Tsang's the man for me, says Beijing envoy to HK
Top diplomat's open support for chief executive's re-election marks a change
Foreign Ministry Commissioner Lu Xinhua yesterday openly backed Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's bid for a second term - the first mainland official to do so.
'I support him serving for five more years,' Mr Lu said after a media reception at the Office of the Foreign Ministry Commissioner in Hong Kong in Central.
Mr Lu, who became commissioner in February, said he had a good impression of Mr Tsang, who, he said, enjoyed high popularity.
'He is willing to listen to the views of all circles when he handles complicated matters,' the commissioner said.
Asked whether he supported former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang contesting next year's chief executive election, Mr Lu said Hong Kong residents had the right to participate in the election.
'From that angle, of course she has the right,' he said.
A spokesman for the Chief Executive's Office noted Mr Tsang had said it was too early to talk about his re-election.
The open blessing for his candidacy from the mainland's top diplomat in Hong Kong is a departure from mainland officials' practice of avoiding any declaration of support for a candidate - though Beijing's preference for Mr Tsang is widely known. Several times in the past year, central government leaders have spoken with satisfaction about the job Mr Tsang is doing.
One mainland official said last night that it was not a matter of if Beijing would give its public backing to Mr Tsang, but when.
'Beijing would not have supported him serving only two years. But since the Election Committee has not even been formed, the central authorities will not make their stance clear at such an early stage.
'Whether any candidate gets Beijing's support or blessing is of course important. Mr Lu was probably expressing his personal views in a casual manner,' the mainland official said.
Since February, several Hong Kong business titans, including Cheung Kong (Holdings) chairman Li Ka-shing, casino mogul Stanley Ho Hung-sun, Airport Authority chairman Victor Fung Kwok-king and former chairman of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association Chan Wing-kee have publicly backed Mr Tsang's re-election.
The chief executive has set out three criteria which will determine whether or not he stands for re-election next March - good health, the support of the public and Beijing's backing.
A source close to the Chief Executive's Office said Mr Tsang had begun preparing for his re-election campaign. 'They have started identifying possible candidates for the Election Committee polls [in December] and seeing if they are Tsang supporters,' the source said.
