Having secured more than half the 796 Election Committee nominations just four days into his campaign, the chief executive looks certain to get at least one job done. Wrapping up the fourth and final question-and-answer session with a group of Election Committee members yesterday, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has apparently turned his attention to the legacy he will leave behind when his new term ends in 2012. 'Life is short,' he reportedly said at the meeting. 'If I could resolve the problems over constitutional reform within my [next] term, that would be a great achievement in my political career.' His response to the question of universal suffrage, raised by Democratic Party legislator Lee Wing-tat, was not a surprise. The bitter failure of the electoral reform package just six months into his present term was a slap in the face for someone who has made 'getting the job done' his maxim for four decades. Two years ago, Mr Tsang - who was 60 at the time - expressed confidence that there would be universal suffrage during his lifetime. However, he has repeatedly shied away from committing himself to a timetable despite repeated challenges by Civic Party hopeful Alan Leong Kah-kit. By the time he steps down in 2012, Mr Tsang will be 67, the age at which his predecessor, Tung Chee-hwa, resigned citing health reasons. Mr Lee, one of the two pan-democrat legislators who attended the forum yesterday, is keen to see Mr Tsang fulfil his aspirations. 'If people remember Tung Chee-hwa for sending half a million people to the street, perhaps Mr Tsang will also want people to remember him, but for something else. That's why he has set himself a goal,' he said. Don't worry, Mr Tsang, if political reform is still deadlocked five years from now, you will still be remembered for putting up the colossal new government headquarters on the harbourfront.
