After winning re-election by a landslide, Donald Tsang was reappointed as chief
executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) by
Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday.
"Tsang's victory in the election shows the Hong Kong people's
expectations and reflects their trust in him," Wen said.
Tsang, in a statement issued following the appointment,
expressed his thanks to the central government for the "great
honor" he had in having the opportunity to serve.
"I have a huge mission," Tsang said, adding that he would
pragmatically lead the HKSAR government in bringing Hong Kong's
development to new heights.
According to the Basic Law of the HKSAR, the chief executive is
first elected by the broadly representative Election Committee
before being appointed by the central government.
Tsang saw off Alan Leong, his only challenger, 649 to 123 in the
election for chief executive on March 25. The Election Committee,
the SAR's electoral college, comprises elected representatives from
various sectors of society.
"The election, conforming to the principle of openness, fairness
and justice, fully tallies with the Basic Law and other relevant
laws," Wen said at a plenum of the State Council.
Addressing Tsang's first tenure as chief executive, Wen praised
his performance as HKSAR chief executive since first being elected
in June 2005. Tsang's first election victory was made possible
after his predecessor, Tung Chee Hwa, resigned mid-way through his
second term due to ill health.
Tsang will begin his new term on July 1, 2007, marking the third
full term since Hong Kong returned to China in 1997.
"Tsang has led the local government and through this, it has
enhanced its governance capability, developed its economy, improved
the livelihood of the people, and properly handled problems of
public concern," Wen said, adding that "the performance of
(Tsang's) administration had been applauded by local people from
all walks of life."
The central government places its hopes in Tsang and wishes to
see him make greater contributions to Hong Kong's long-term
prosperity and stability, further strive to implement the Basic Law
and abide to the principle of "one country, two systems", which
allows Hong Kong people to administer the SAR with a high degree of
self-determination, Wen noted.
"I shall not fail the trust the central government and the
people of Hong Kong have placed in me," Tsang said in the
statement.
He revealed that he would continue to listen to guidance and
advice from Election Committee members and to reach out to all
people to hear their needs and expectations, a policy he had
already applied during the two-month election campaign.
"I'll keep these precious suggestions in mind and try to respond
to them in my future work," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2007)