No way opposition can win, state leader tells Leong
Alan Leong Kah-kit was told yesterday it would be impossible for the opposition camp to win the chief executive post.
The comments by State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan came after he had voiced support for incumbent Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen for the second day running.
'A chief executive from the opposition camp? No way? Do you think it's possible? I don't think so,' Mr Tang said in South Africa where he was accompanying President Hu Jintao on an official visit.
'It was the first time the state leader had commented on the challenge by Civic Party legislator Mr Leong.
Foreign Ministry Commissioner Lu Xinhua also gave his support to Mr Tsang in Hong Kong yesterday.
' I support his second term in office because Mr Tsang has led Hong Kong people to cope with difficulties in social and economic development and made great headway.
'Public opinion shows that 60 per cent of Hong Kong people support Mr Tsang, which has laid the foundation for his success,' Mr Lu said.
Mr Leong's campaign office said last night Mr Tang and Mr Lu's comments highlighted 'how unfair the small-circle election is', as some candidates were being ruled out by Beijing before the start of the poll.
Mr Leong said: 'The officials should understand that Hong Kong people don't like an appointed chief executive. Mainland leaders should return this vote to the Hong Kong people as soon as possible.'
On the second day of visits to pro-government political parties, Mr Tsang launched a charm offensive to woo the Liberal Party, which has long complained about a lack of involvement in policymaking.
'I think we must sit closer, really sit closer,' said Mr Tsang while taking a seat in front of the media during a photo session with the party leadership following a closed-door forum.
Party chairman James Tien Pei-chun, who delivered nine more nominations to Mr Tsang - bringing the party and its allies' nomination count to 110 - said the chief executive pledged a closer relationship if he was returned for a second term.
'Mr Tsang said he felt and understands our alliance in the past two years was a bit loose and must be raised to a new level.
'Of course, we hope we can sit even closer,' Mr Tien said.
