Leader Offers Rosy Picture of China Rule

Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said that China is giving him a free hand and that he in turn is staying out of mainland affairs. Since China assumed control over the former British colony July 1, Tung said, he has only “rarely” communicated with Beijing on how to run the territory, but at the same time he is carefully avoiding actions that might be regarded as meddlesome. “We have an excellent working relationship with the central government,” he said. Tung, however, drew criticism for his recent decision to remove 22 Taiwanese flags flown to mark the national day of Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province.