Hong Kong Chief to Run for Second Term

Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa ended months of speculation Thursday by declaring his intention to run for a second five-year term as head of this quasi-autonomous special administrative region of China.

“Initially, I only wanted to serve one term,” Tung told a few hundred carefully selected supporters gathered at the city’s convention and exhibition center. “But I feel I’m just getting started. There are problems to solve, and I want to stand united with the people of Hong Kong.”

Tung has been frequently criticized by human rights groups for failing to defend the freedoms guaranteed under the terms of the former British colony’s return to China 4 1/2 years ago under a formula known as “one-country, two systems.”

Last May, the U.S., Britain and Australia demanded explanations from Tung’s government after it deported more than 100 supporters of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, including some citizens of those countries. They had come to Hong Kong apparently to protest persecution of the movement in mainland China.

Under the de facto constitution that gave Hong Kong its own political and legal system, residents of the territory are supposed to be free to select their own leader.

However, it was apparent that Tung’s decision to seek a second term came only after receiving a green light from Beijing. His victory would appear to be assured under Hong Kong’s unusual electoral system, which limits voting for the highest office to a large committee of about 800 privileged members of a population that numbers nearly 7 million.

The election is scheduled for March.

Because Tung is known to be Beijing’s preferred candidate, he is, at least so far, running unopposed. Despite Tung’s lack of popular support and his questionable first-term track record, the 800 electors will probably find it difficult to oppose him.

“When he calls up and asks you to endorse him, it must be extremely hard to say no, especially when you know he will be the boss for another five years,” said Christine Loh, who declined last year to seek reelection to Hong Kong’s Legislative Council in protest against the body’s lack of power.

Others were harsher.

“Hong Kong democracy has been raped today,” declared Law Yuk-kai, director of the citizens rights group, Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor. “This reminds us of what is common knowledge among observers: China doesn’t object to any election provided it knows the results in advance.”

Beijing’s senior representative in Hong Kong, Liaison Office director Jiang Enzhu, publicly endorsed Tung this week.

Tung’s announcement came a day after the release of a survey in which only 16% of those polled supported the chief executive’s quest for a second term. The figure represents an all-time low in public backing for Tung.

Respondents to the poll by the Baptist University’s Hong Kong Transition Project found Tung politically too conservative and lacking charisma and considered him to have done a poor job.