C.Y. Leung gets boost on national stage

Hong Kong's embattled chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, received a boost yesterday when his leadership abilities were praised at a press conference ahead of today's CPPCC.

"I am familiar with Mr Leung Chun-ying," said Lu Xinhua, the CPPCC session's new official spokesman.

"He is not only committed to Hong Kong and ambitious, but also very capable. I believe Hong Kong will be a better place under his leadership," said Lu, a former commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, in response to questions regarding Leung's performance.

Asked about Hongkongers' concerns over the nomination threshold of the 2017 chief executive election, Lu said it would need further discussion.

"The concrete arrangements of universal suffrage will require the SAR government to have a rational discussion with different sectors of the community to seek consensus in accordance with the Basic Law and based on the decision of the National People's Congress Standing Committee," Lu said.

Lu said he agreed with Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing that the central government would agree to elect the chief executive in 2017 by universal suffrage and that voters would elect someone who loved the nation and Hong Kong.