Why Zhang Dejiang’s choice of words may worry Hong Kong’s chief executive Leung Chun-ying
Pan-democrat legislator suggests state leader conveyed only ‘minimal endorsement’ of city chief
Last year, Christmas came early for Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. At a meeting with the media after his visit to Beijing, he beamed as he switched from English to Mandarin to repeat how President Xi Jinping “fully endorsed” his work.
And yesterday Zhang Dejiang, the third highest-ranking official in China, dished out more praise but also gave Leung cause for pause as, according to veteran lawmakers, his choice of adjective seemed less affirming.
In a meeting to hear the work performance from dozens of local officials, Zhang, who leads a group on Hong Kong and Macau affairs, summarised Xi’s earlier position on the leader and added: “The central government is satisfied with the work of the chief executive and of the [Hong Kong] government.”
Expressing satisfaction, argued Civic Party lawmaker Alan Leong Kah-kit, was different from full endorsement.
“As a matter of plain language, the degree of endorsement from Zhang this afternoon is much less than a few months ago,” he said. “The word ‘satisfied’ is very restrained, offering minimal endorsement of Leung.”
A veteran pro-Beijing lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he “couldn’t explain why” Zhang used a different wording.