Will he or won't he step down from the position of chief executive during the last month of his term? That is the question on many people's mind about Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's fate, which will probably be decided in the middle of this month when he is scheduled to have his last question-and-answer session with the Legislative Council.
Tsang's voluntary resignation is probably wishful thinking on the part of the politicians who had tried to score points with the public by humiliating this lame duck. For their wish to come true, they must be able to muster so much public pressure on Tsang that he would prefer to bow out rather than sit tight for just two more weeks.
Tsang has admitted having done a number of improper things, but, as it now stands, they are all in grey areas; though immoral, they cannot be described as unlawful. And I don't see much public furore; you won't find people taking to the streets in his final days vowing to kick him out.
Impeachment is a viable alternative but there is simply not enough time to complete the process as stipulated by the Basic Law. There is not enough time even to set up a Legco investigation under the Powers and Privileges Ordinance.
Such being the case, many people in the establishment tend to take a more pragmatic view and prefer to let Tsang finish his term. He has two very important tasks at hand, the obvious one being a smooth handover to Leung Chun-ying's administration. Let us not forget that this year is also the 15th anniversary of the handover from the British, a time for celebration. President Hu Jintao is expected to visit Hong Kong around July 1 to officiate at a series of important events, including Leung's swearing-in.
If Tsang holds the fort well, in Beijing's eyes, a lot of his sins will be forgiven. His chances of replacing Tung Chee-hwa as vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference are now thinner than a piece of paper, but he does have his knighthood.