How the international press reported the story
The Times
Mr Tung had been an avuncular figure, and known as ?Mr 7-11? for the long hours that he worked. Yet he was widely seen as incompetent and remote, and his period as chief executive was characterised by several crises, from his failure to deal with calls for more democracy, his administration?s fumbling of the Sars virus and its lack of decisiveness during three economic recessions. Mr Tung had been an avuncular figure, and known as ?Mr 7-11? for the long hours that he worked. Yet he was widely seen as incompetent and remote, and his period as chief executive was characterised by several crises, from his failure to deal with calls for more democracy, his administration?s fumbling of the Sars virus and its lack of decisiveness during three economic recessions.
The New York Times
His resignation is likely to present Beijing with two political novelties: first, a Chinese territory run by a knighted former British civil servant, and then, a multi-candidate election.
Under Hong Kong law, Mr Tung?s immediate successor would be Donald Tsang, who had a distinguished record of service during British rule here, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, and is famous here for invariably wearing bow ties.
The territory?s Basic Law, a mini-constitution drafted mostly by Chinese officials before Britain handed over the territory in 1997, calls for new elections to be held within six months of the resignation of the chief executive.
