Mainland view highlights Tung's difficulties

CHIEF EXECUTIVE Tung Chee-hwa was full of praise for the new leadership endorsed at the National People's Congress which ended in Beijing last week.

'They have a firm and clear direction and goal, full of confidence and high spirit,' he told a group of senior journalists after returning from a trip to the capital city.

President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, said Mr Tung, have a full understanding of the Hong Kong issue, citing Mr Wen's comment that 'what Hong Kong needs now is unity and confidence'.

Mr Wen made the comment at a post-NPC plenum press conference, after he was asked about the political and economic woes in the special administrative region (SAR).

Reiterating the fundamental strengths of Hong Kong, the premier again said he was confident the leaders of the SAR government had the ability to overcome the difficulties they faced.

Mr Wen's remarks could not have come at a more embarrassing time, with the Tung administration caught up in a leadership crisis.

Against the background of a severe economic downturn and hefty tax raises, the Tung team was fighting two tough battles.

First, the pressure for Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung to resign grew with new revelations about his car purchase, casting more doubts on his integrity. Signs abound that the way Mr Tung has handled the case has caused even stronger disquiet within his administration than the community.

Second, the outbreak of atypical pneumonia has tested the professionalism of local medical teams as well as the ability of the government to avoid a public panic and maintain confidence in public health measures.

Unrelated though they are, the two crises have posed a serious challenge to the ability of the chief executive to inspire public confidence and rally the people to overcome the adversity together.

In his first meeting with Mr Tung in his new capacity as premier, Mr Wen could have chosen to be reticent about good leadership and ways to strengthen unity and confidence.

Moreover, his debut appearance before the media from around the world on Tuesday has provided food for thought on his leadership credentials.

Kicking off his press conference with remarks addressed to the people of China, Mr Wen described himself as an ordinary person. He said his own family, like most families in China, had known war and suffering during his childhood.

Of the 2,500 counties in China, he had travelled to more than 1,800, he said.

'This is how I came to deeply understand the people's hardships.'

'I've been fortunate that people have trust in me and encouraged me. I must use the people's trust and take courage to persist with all my strength and never to give up,' he said.

Sharply different in personal style and image from his predecessor, the charismatic Zhu Rongji, Mr Wen has more in common with Mr Tung. Mr Wen described himself as 'mild-mannered' though holding strong beliefs, independent thoughts and a willingness to bear responsibility.

What is lacking most in Mr Tung's case has been a strong feeling among ordinary citizens that he is a man of the people.

He seems unaware of the immense importance of going to the people and getting their support and understanding.

In one illustrative case, he made no secret of his feeling of 'homecoming' when addressing business figures at a luncheon last year. In contrast, he cancelled arrangements to talk to citizens on a radio phone-in programme after his last policy address.

As for the car-purchase scandal, Mr Tung has maintained he took opinion surveys into account in deciding how to deal with the case.

On the atypical pneumonia crisis, he said he fully understood the public's concern and pledged to provide more resources to tackle the situation.

Good leadership, however, is not built solely upon high percentages in the polls or a swift reaction to funding needs. It will be measured against the ability and sincerity of a leader to understand, trust and be accountable to the people.

Chris Yeung is the Post's Editor-at-large