John Tsang’s resignation will have ‘big impact’ on government’s work, chief executive says
CY Leung declines to say if he supports Tsang’s expected bid for city’s top job, but dismisses suggestion of rift between him and finance minister
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who announced last week that he would not seek re-election next March, was speaking a day after Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah resigned but stopped short of confirming his widely expected bid for the city’s top job.
Tsang’s potential rivals include the city’s No 2 official Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, New People’s Party chairwoman Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee and retired judge Woo Kwok-hing.
Before the Executive Council’s weekly meeting, Leung was asked if the government’s work would be hindered by Tsang’s departure and if Lam followed suit.
“Now is the government’s busiest time of the year, because I will be announcing the policy address next month and February is the time for the budget to be rolled out,” Leung said, referring to the financial secretary’s annual address.
“The policy address’ basic content is ready, and the financial backup for it and the preparation for the budget have just started. So not to say two ministers resigning, even the financial secretary’s resignation itself would have quite a big impact on our work,” Leung added.