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HK to seek explanations on leader's tenure
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-06 17:11

HONG KONG - Hong Kong will ask Beijing to step in and avert a looming "constitutional crisis" over the tenure of its next leader, the city's caretaker leader said.

Acting chief executive Donald Tsang said the government would request the State Council, or China's cabinet, intervenes after activists threatened to derail the selection process for a new chief executive, sparked by the mid-term resignation of former leader Tung Chee-hwa last month.

Hong Kong's acting Chief Executive Donald Tsang holds a copy of "Hong Kong Basic Law", the 'mini-constitution' of the special administrative region, during a Legislative Council meeting in Hong Kong April 6, 2005. Tsang said on Wednesday the Hong Kong government will ask the central authorities to interpret its constitution to settle a dispute over the term of its next leader, despite fears it will undermine the city's high degree of autonomy. [Reuters]

"After thorough and careful consideration we have decided to submit a report to make the request," Tsang told legislators.

Tsang, who is favourite to succeed Tung, said the move was vital because the legal challenges could paralyse the administration.

"If the government fails to elect a new chief in time and lawfully, it would affect major government policies and the governance of Hong Kong and it may even see a constitutional crisis," he said.

"This is lawful and consitutional in order to remove uncertainty in the government ... we must elect a new chief executive in time," he said.

The controversy was triggered by a decision that the next leader -- to be elected on July 10 by an 800-member committee -- should serve only the two years remaining of Tung's term.

Opponents said the ruling was in breach of the Basic Law that came into force when the former British colony reverted to Chinese rule in 1997.

The State Council will refer the matter to the legal minds of China's top parliamentary body, the National People's Congress Standing Committee, which will meet at the end of this month and give a ruling based on their interpretation of the Basic Law's electoral provisions.

"If only there was another option that could resolve the problem we would be glad to do it. But we have not come across such a method," Tsang told lawmakers at a session of the Legislative Council.

"I know that it will not be well received. But it would not affect 'one country, two systems', it will not damage the rule of law nor the high degree of autonomy here."

Tsang's announcement came after he met the city's executive council, or cabinet, to discuss the matter.

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