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Beijing won’t appoint winner of chief executive race if it finds candidate ‘unacceptable’, elder statesman Tung Chee-hwa warns
Vice-chairman of China’s top advisory body says city’s leader has to be someone central government trusts
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Elder statesman and vice-chairman of China’s top advisory body Tung Chee-hwa has warned that Beijing will not appoint the winner of next month’s chief executive election to the city’s top post if it deems him or her unacceptable.
The Post understands that Tung, who was Hong Kong’s first chief executive, made the remarks on Friday during a closed-door meeting attended by more than 30 advisers to his non-governmental think tank, Our Hong Kong Foundation.
Watch: Hong Kong’s leadership race explained in 60 seconds
It remains unclear if Tung mentioned or was referring to John Tsang Chun-wah, the underdog who enjoys the biggest mass appeal among the four candidates in the leadership race. An adviser at the meeting said Tung did mention the former financial secretary while talking about the importance of the central government’s trust in the city’s leader.
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“In response to some advisers’ questions regarding the chief executive election, Tung said John Tsang’s capability can’t compare with Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s, and the central government doesn’t trust him,” the adviser said.
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Tung, vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, did not elaborate on why Beijing was unwilling to trust Tsang.
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