Unity elusive for Hong Kong if John Tsang cannot run, former financial minister Antony Leung says

Former Hong Kong financial secretary says city’s current financial chief has crucial ability to lead city and bridge sharp divisions despite Beijing’s reported lack of enthusiasm for his bid

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Antony Leung Kam-chung spoke at the SCMP China Conference. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 1:30pm, 2 Dec 2016Updated: 11:26pm, 2 Dec 2016

If Beijing blocks Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah from running for Hong Kong’s top job, it will be difficult to unite a divided city, one of his predecessors warned on Friday.

Antony Leung Kam-chung, who has cited the “ability to unite Hong Kong” as a key requirement for the next chief executive and identified Tsang as such a candidate, was asked on Friday to comment on reports that the financial secretary was “all set to go” for the leadership race next March, despite being “shown a red light” by Beijing.

“If the central government showed him the red light, then what? If there was really the red light, unity would be difficult,” said Leung, who served as finance minister from 2001 to 2003, stepping down due to a scandal over his purchase of a luxury car just before imposing a new vehicle tax.

Former Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, who has also indicated he might challenge incumbent Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying “to offer a genuine choice”, dismissed suggestions on Friday he was “shown the red light” as well.

“There is no Beijing official telling me that the entire central government will make me suffer if I run,” Tsang said.

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