The chief executive says he needs him to handle serious economic challenges The international standing of Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung had not been shaken because of the controversy surrounding his new car, Mr Tung said. The chief executive also defended the decision to keep Mr Leung in his job, saying he had fully considered public opinion before making it. Mr Leung bought a new Lexus, but failed to declare it, shortly before introducing a vehicle registration tax increase in his budget in March. His action stirred the biggest political fallout since the accountability system was introduced last July. But Mr Tung's remarks fuelled a barrage of criticism from opposition lawmakers, who warned that the ministerial system designed to boost political accountability, would lose its credibility. Mr Tung publicly censured Mr Leung for gross negligence but rejected his resignation. A no-confidence vote against Mr Leung was rejected in the legislature last week. Responding for the first time since the vote, Mr Tung said he had full trust in his finance chief. 'Mr Leung has said it is only an oversight. I believe him,' he said. Democrat Martin Lee Chu-ming said he was worried that the international community had lost trust in Hong Kong because it had a finance chief whose integrity was under question. 'Overseas businessmen find it a laughing stock that the chief executive still keeps Mr Leung,' he said. The government revealed long after the event that Mr Leung had offered to resign soon after the controversy arose in early March. But lawmakers have questioned the validity of this letter, as Mr Leung mixed up the date when he handed it to Mr Tung. Responding to Mr Lee, Mr Tung said: 'Everyone has to be honest in telling what one has to say. I trust the financial secretary. His international status has not [been] shaken in the wake of the incident.' He said he needed Mr Leung to stay and tackle the challenges ahead, including the economic recovery and the need to balance the budget. 'At the peak of the Sars outbreak, do you realise that the Hong Kong dollar rate has become a lot weaker? All these problems have to be handled. I have confidence that Mr Leung will handle that very well. That's why I keep him.' Cyd Ho Sau-lan of The Frontier said there was an apparent gap between public expectations and the way the accountability system operated. She asked if Mr Tung, who survived a Legco motion calling for his resignation on Wednesday and whose public approval rating remains low, had assessed how the public found his performance. Mr Tung said: 'As the chief executive, I am receptive to public opinion all the time. And I remind myself that I am serving the people of Hong Kong.' IN HIS OWN WORDS ... You have bad-mouthed Hong Kong for six years. You may continue to bad-mouth ? Mr Tung hits back at Martin Lee Chu-ming after the Democrat said Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung?s car-gate scandal had damaged Hong Kong?s image overseas Change with the times because the times are changing. If you don?t embrace this new era, time will give up on you and will dump you. I can bear your abuse but I want you to know it will not shake my determination to serve the people of Hong Kong ? Mr Tung gives the opposition his view of the numerous attacks against him So shallow ? The chief executive calls on the opposition to be broader minded as he replies to Albert Chan Wai-yip?s questions about whether he agreed with the central government?s decision to sack Beijing mayor Meng Xuenong We are fighting for the lives and interests of the people in the face of a big enemy. The time and environment do not allow us to waste our valuable energy on endless and sensational debates and conflicts ? Mr Tung urges the people of Hong Kong to unite against Sars
