This week will be a defining moment for Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen. How he will be remembered after he departs from the political scene in 2012 will depend on the outcomes of two events. First, whether he is selected by netizens as one of the 10 most influential people in China in 2007, in an online survey organised by mainland media conglomerates.
If picked, he will probably be written into history books as a popular regional leader.
The second matter is how Beijing rules on Hong Kong's constitutional development. Mr Tsang recently submitted a consultation report to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and though its decision is beyond the scope of his power, it will help define his legacy.
Unfortunately, Mr Tsang is unlikely to win in both cases, which accentuates the paradox of his position as Hong Kong's chief executive. The online survey is an annual event organised by half a dozen mainland magazines and internet companies. This year, Mr Tsang is among 20 nominees including Olympic gold medal hurdler Liu Xiang , academic-turned-TV-icon Yu Dan , environmentalist Ma Jun , the non-communist minister of science and technology Wan Gang , and Taiwanese movie director Ang Lee. The nomination is seen as a high honour because Mr Tsang was picked from among China's 1.3 billion people, not Hong Kong's mere 7 million.
But his choice seems a bit peculiar. He was introduced to the contest as a person who combined the qualities of persistence, pragmatism and diligence during his 40-year career in the civil service. Rising from a humble family to be a regional leader, the biography goes on to suggest, Mr Tsang embodies the sprit of Hong Kong. His rise exemplifies the city's transformation from fishing village to international financial hub.
His biography seems to highlight the bureaucratic side of Mr Tsang's record. Yet the selection for most influential figure is reportedly based on a candidate's innovative vigour, contribution to the nation's development and individual popularity. So the gulf between Mr Tsang's character and those desired qualities shows that, when it comes to Hong Kong, a public icon is selected by a different set of rules.
