Ex-finance chief Antony Leung denies Tung Chee-hwa's new think tank is stage for 2017 run

A think tank set up by former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa to conduct studies on the city's long-term development has identified its first mission - how to bridge the divide caused by the Occupy Central protests.

The Our Hong Kong Foundation, which met for about two hours yesterday, includes among its 70-plus directors former financial secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung, former Monetary Authority chief executive Joseph Yam Chi-kwong, Shun Tak managing director Pansy Ho Chiu-king, former Ocean Park boss Allan Zeman, ex-chief justice Ti-liang Yang and former Democrat lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen.

Antony Leung, who served in Tung's cabinet from 2001 until 2003, has been tipped as a possible successor to beleaguered current leader Leung Chun-ying.

He resigned in 2003 after coming under heavy criticism for buying a luxury car shortly before announcing a proposal to sharply increase a tax on new cars. Leung brushed off suggestions that the think tank would provide him a platform for an eventual bid for the top job.

"You all have been very imaginative. As I said earlier, I have no plan to stand for the chief executive [job]," the banker said, adding that the think tank would study ways to take the city forward after the protests.

"At this juncture, we need more people to give ideas for Hong Kong," he said. "I hope that apart from this foundation, more people can come out and study ways to make amends for the split after Occupy Central."

Leung said he hoped the protesters could end their demonstration as soon as possible.