CY Leung drops strongest hint yet that he may seek second term as chief executive

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on Tuesday dropped his strongest hint yet that he may seek a second term in 2017.

Leung had not clearly answered questions about whether he would stand for re-election, but speaking before an Executive Council meeting yesterday he said he hadn't ruled it out.

"I would not rule out any possibility," Leung said. "Whether to seek a second term is something [to be considered] in later days."

He said in the meantime he should devote himself to his work as chief executive and to implementing his 2012 manifesto.

Today is the third anniversary of Leung's chief executive election victory.

His remarks came just weeks after an authoritative pro-establishment source stirred up controversy in Beijing by saying Leung would win a second term and then introduce controversial national security laws under Article 23 of the Basic Law if the legislature vetoed the government's political reform package.