Tung Chee-hwa sidestepped questions yesterday on whether the 800-strong Election Committee was tailor-made for him to run for a second five-year term.
The Government said last week the committee, which was set up in July and chose six legislators in the September Legislative Council poll, would elect the next chief executive in 2002.
'You are highly imaginative,' the Chief Executive said when asked if the arrangement was tailor-made and unfair.
The announcement triggered criticism of the Government for keeping the public in the dark and the administration was warned of possible legal challenges.
Mr Tung said the arrangement was in line with the Basic Law, and refused to comment on whether he would seek a second term.
'I will make a decision on whether to run in due course,' he said after meeting President Jiang Zemin in Macau to celebrate the first anniversary of the handover.