Hong Kong Chief Executive C.Y. Leung opens up on his top two lieutenants

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying described his top two cabinet ministers as “capable aides”, but stopped short of saying whether they had what it would take to challenge him should he decide to seek re-election in March.

Leung also insisted his cabinet has been “united” in seeking ­solutions to Hong Kong’s problems. The government’s engagement with the public would “make no difference” under a different chief executive, he argued.

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah, Hong Kong’s No 2 and 3 officials, are seen as possible rivals for next year’s leadership race, although they have repeatedly denied such ambitions.

In the last of a three-part television interview aired on TVB last night, Leung said: “Lam worked in the Social Welfare Department, and her heart is exactly the same as mine in that work. She is a very capable minister as she is more familiar with the government’s operation [than me].”

When asked if Tsang had been hindering him from spending more on social welfare, Leung ­replied: “It was unfair to say so.”

He insisted his policy speech initiatives were clearly highlighted and supported by the financial secretary’s budget, and this was the expected relationship ­between them.

Asked if Lam or Tsang could govern Hong Kong, he said: “We have never discussed my [suitability] or theirs; they are both my capable aides, and this administration is very united.”

According to Chinese University’s latest poll, Leung’s popularity rating stood at 40 out of 100 points, while Tsang and Lam had 61.6 and 53.1 respectively.

Pan-democratic lawmakers accused Leung of being too hardline, and argued it would be easier to reach consensus on many issues under a different leader. But Leung said: “I think it would make no difference.”

“This administration has been lobbying different stakeholders in trying to solve difficult issues. I ­believe people are focusing on issues, not a person in particular.”

He added: “No one has ever said that under a different chief executive, they would not want a universal retirement protection scheme ... So this is a conceptual problem.”

Leung suggested the pan-democrats had opposed his predecessors, including Hong Kong’s first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, as their “primary enemy”.

At a dinner for lawmakers organised by the chief executive last night, which the pan-democrats boycotted, Federation of Trade Unions legislator Kwok ­Wai-keung said Leung did not mention anything about seeking another term.