Wang Guangya: New chief needs to be an expert manager, well accepted by the people

The director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council has given the first indication of what Beijing is seeking for Hong Kong's next chief executive (CE).

"For a city that adopts the 'one country, two systems' principle, the next CE should first love the motherland as well as Hong Kong. Secondly, he should possess high-caliber skills for governing Hong Kong's economy and improving the living standards of its citizens. Thirdly, he should be widely accepted by the people ," said Wang Guangya, director of the office.

Wang added that the imminent CE election in early 2012 should be conducted in accordance with the Basic Law.

"The governing of Hong Kong does not rely solely on the CE, but on the collaboration within the entire team, although the CE should be an important person," he said.

Wang spoke during a meeting with a six-person delegation of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (HKFTU), including the federation's Chairman Cheung Yiu-tong.

"I believe that the central government will soon declare its position towards the next CE, and that's good because the sooner it declares the stand, the more time there will be for the Election Committee to brace for the election, and there would be fewer speculative candidates showing up," said Cheung after the first-day meeting.

So far no one has officially declared an intention to campaign for the post of CE.

The public has widely regarded Henry Tang, Leung Chun-ying and Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai as the three most likely candidates.

Some political commentators said that the elliptical remarks by Wang did not reveal an obvious preference of the central government over any of the candidates.

The Election Committee, composed of 1,200 people, will be selected in December from different sectors, Legislative Council members, Hong Kong representatives of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Heung Yee Kuk and elected District Council members.

Tien Pei-chun, the honorary chairman of the Liberal Party, embraced the three conditions set out by Wang, and added that the next CE should attach importance to a few matters that "urgently await to be resolved," including high property prices, the widening wealth gap, education and medical problems.

Cheung of the HKFTU also said that he had told Wang that Hong Kong citizens in general are revealing discontentment and misgivings over their current status as well as future prospects.

Wang responded that social issues are easily politicized in Hong Kong, and urged the HKFTU to care more about the grassroots population and help resolve social problems.

Wang also said that the central government will do its best to help Hong Kong address inflation and to lower commodity prices.

andrea@chinadailyhk.com

China Daily

(HK Edition 07/12/2011 page1)