Tsang defends campaign visit in working hours
Challenger Alan Leong criticises chief executive's use of government resources
Donald Tsang Yam-kuen made a high-profile visit to his newly opened campaign office during office hours yesterday, stressing that he was chief executive '24 hours a day' and there was no distinction between his working hours or leisure time.
The move drew criticism from contestant Alan Leong Kah-kit, although Mr Tsang's aides insisted the practice was in line with those in Britain and the United States.
Mr Tsang arrived at his Wan Chai office in his official car shortly after lunch. He was sporting a Chinese-style suit, abandoning his usual bow tie in favour of a pocket handkerchief.
'I am the chief executive 24 hours a day,' he said. 'The Basic Law does not allow me to resign [as chief executive] to run for election, so there is no distinction between my working hours or my leisure time.'
The Constitutional Affairs Bureau later issued a statement, saying that the incumbent chief executive was required to implement the duties enshrined in the Basic Law and 'cannot take a holiday recklessly'.
The statement also cited the precedent of former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa, who continued to carry out his duties while campaigning for a second term.
A government official said that for security purposes Mr Tsang had to use his official car.
Mr Tsang said he made his visit to see whether the office would make a suitable headquarters and to meet his campaign staff. A source familiar with the campaign said he would announce his candidacy on February 1.
Mr Leong criticised the chief executive's blase attitude towards use of government resources. 'I don't think monitoring the work of your election office is part of the chief executive's work,' he said. While recognising that Mr Tsang may not have breached any rules, Mr Leong said: 'As a public officer, you should always err on the side of caution, and not tread on the line.'
He contrasted Mr Tsang's move yesterday with the actions of Macau Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah, who took 14 days' leave in August 2004 shortly before election day on August 29.
Mr Leong said he thought Mr Tsang was delaying announcing his intention to run because it served as an excuse not to respond to calls for him to take part in a debate. He also said Mr Tsang could pick the brains of his policy bureaus over any issue in response to his [Mr Leong's] various election platforms, while dismissing accusations that he was using government resources to further his election.
Ivan Choy Chi-keung, political analyst at Chinese University, said while the chief executive's working hours were flexible, Mr Tsang should be wary of 'going too far' despite following the letter of the law. 'There is public expectation for him to be doing the chief executive's work during office hours, and this falls short of that.'
