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My TakeThe second coming of Leung Chun-ying
- It’s not a prospect welcomed by everyone, but the controversial former city leader looks set to return to political office in Hong Kong
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It’s only a matter of time before former city leader Leung Chun-ying returns to the political limelight.
Once ranked the most unpopular of the four chief executives Hong Kong has had, he is now beaten by incumbent Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, thanks mostly to her disastrous handling of the 2019 unrest and subsequent endorsement of the controversial national security law.
Leung is in an enviable position. Two local top jobs now await him, both well-suited to his ambitions and talents. At 66, he is too young to retire. Judging by his latest attempt to revive a shelved government plan to build public housing on the fringes of the Tai Lam Country Park, he may be gunning for a second time as chief executive.
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Whether you think the country park development idea is brilliant or idiotic, housing had been his policy centrepiece but also his singular failure as chief executive to meet demands. That he raises such a contentious plan at this time just fuels speculation.
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Asked by reporters last month whether he would run for chief executive again, Leung gave an ambiguous answer, saying he was ready to take up any job that will “serve the interests of the country”.
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