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Beijing worried no candidate can win strong mandate in chief executive race, Hong Kong politician says
Local politician says that may be a factor in delays in approving John Tsang’s resignation; another politician suggests there could be a dark horse candidate
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Beijing estimates that none of the potential candidates for chief executive can secure a clear majority to become Hong Kong’s next leader in March, according to a local politician, and that is a factor for why it has been holding back on approving John Tsang Chun-wah’s resignation as financial secretary.
Tsang tendered his resignation on December 12 and hinted that he would seek to succeed his boss, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who made a shock announcement that he would not seek re-election.
Tsang’s move came days after the city’s No 2 official, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, said she would “reconsider” whether to run so that the administration’s current policies could be sustained.
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Beijing has remained silent over Tsang’s resignation, leaving his expected bid in limbo.
New People’s Party lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee and retired judge Woo Kwok-hing are the only people to have announced their bids.
The Election Committee’s 1,194 members, a quarter of whom are from the democratic camp, will decide who will govern Hong Kong in the next five years on March 26.
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