In his own words: Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung announces he will not seek re-election
Read the full transcript of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s shock announcement
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying: Friends of the media, thank you for coming. The reason for inviting you today is to announce to the Hong Kong people through your media reports: I will not take part in the coming chief executive election.
The reason is that I need to take care of my family in the coming period of time. Between my responsibility to the community and responsibility to my family, I need to make a responsible choice. If I run for the next chief executive election, I am afraid in the coming few months my family will have to face unbearable pressure as a result of my electioneering. I must protect them on this issue.
I chose to announce my decision through the media immediately after I made the decision, because I hope to let everybody who wants to run for the next chief executive know the latest situation as soon as possible. As for people whose decision whether to run depends on whether I seek re-election, I wish to inform them of my decision as soon as possible.
I have reported my decision to the Central Government, which expressed its understanding. Here I would like to express my gratitude to friends who encouraged and supported my re-election, including people who wrote letters to me to encourage me to run, and continue to service the Hong Kong people in this role. But as I just said, in this period, I need also to take the responsibilities as a husband and father, therefore I had reached such a decision.
In the next six months, as I do not need to run for an election, I will focus my mind and energy to do a good job for the rest of my term as chief executive, including the last policy of this administration in about a month’s time. As in previous administrations, the last Policy Address before a change of term will not only plan for the next few months for Hong Kong – there are some short term, medium term and long term measures which are important to both societal and economic developments. I will do a good job in these areas. Without having to run for an election and being able to take care of my family, it is easier to do well, and this is also my responsibility to the community. In this platform, I will try my best to complete my commitments in my election platform, including the questions concerning MPF offsetting, [the] retirement scheme, and standard working hours. On these three remaining issues, I will try my best to do a good job in the next six months according to my election platform.
Reporter: Can you explainly clear what the family reason is? Did the Central Government refuse your re-election and so you use a family reason as an excuse?
CE: Definitely not. The Central Government has always fully recognised my work and rated my work highly. Everybody can see that from what our state leaders said. I don’t want to be too detailed about my family issues. I would like to sincerely ask a specific media company not to disturb the normal life of my family or bring them any direct or indirect stress.
Reporter: Is it because your daughter had problems that you arrived at your decision? Did what you just said suggest it was your idea not to seek re-election, rather than the Central Government’s idea?
CE: Yes, it is my idea and my family’s idea. As a father and a husband, I have responsibility. I believe the Hong Kong community can elect a good chief executive who will be appointed by the Central Government to serve the community in the next term. I believe there is such a person, I will also support the new chief executive who is elected by the Election Committee and appointed by the Beijing government, I will support his (or her) work. But in my family, my children have only one father, my wife has only one husband.
Reporter: About your daughter’s situation ...
CE: Sorry, I just said I don’t want to openly talk about my family member’s situation, because I am being interviewed by the media and it touches on my family, it already causes stress to my family.
Reporter: Did you communicate with the Central Government? Did it ask you to stay on?
CE: The Central Government has always strongly supported my work. According to my understanding, the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Office will issue a press release. The Central Government has always fully recognised my work and rated it highly.
Reporter: How long did it take to arrive at your decision? When did you tell the Central Government you are not seeking re-election?
CE: A few days.
Reporter: Since when?
CE: A matter of days.
Reporter: Do you have someone you think should be your successor? Does it include John Tsang or others, such as Regina Ip, those who are planning to run?
CE: We will talk about this question later. Thank you.
