Chief Executive Donald Tsang speaks during a news conference to launch his re-election campaign in Hong Kong February 1, 2007. The election of chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will be held on March 25. [Reuters]

HONG KONG: Chief Executive Donald Tsang announced yesterday he would run for a second term, pledging that he, if re-elected, will do his best to make Hong Kong a better place for the next generation.

Tsang said in no uncertain terms that to achieve the goal, he would increase infrastructure spending, create more jobs, improve air quality, enhance heritage protection, create a transparent government and foster a new democratic system.

"I will create a better and new Hong Kong for our next generation and for the people of our city," Tsang told a packed conference declaring his candidacy for the third-term chief executive election.

Tsang said he would be quite happy to attend election forums and debate with any person as long as the forums are conducted in an open, fair and transparent manner.

Besides Tsang, Alan Leong Kah-kit and Lee Wing-kin have so far entered the race or expressed interest in standing.

The election will be held on March 25 by the HKSAR Electoral Affairs Commission in a secret ballot and then reported to the central government.

"I have devoted my entire career to the service of Hong Kong and have two years of experience serving as Chief Executive of Hong Kong, and nobody is in a better position than me to meet the challenges in the coming five years as Chief Executive," Tsang told the press.

In creating a more open political system, he vowed to change the old, top-down decision-making pattern to get the people more involved at the early stage and allow public opinion to form the core foundation in the formulation of government policies.

"I will encourage government officials to change their mindset from that of policy formulator to that of interest coordinator," Tsang added.

Tsang's declaration to run for a second term and his election platform drew positive response from various sectors of the society.

Former Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said he was confident about Tsang's capabilities.

"He has good leadership skills and rich working experience. He is the best candidate for the coming CE election. I have full confidence in him," he said.

Xinhua contributed to the story

(China Daily 02/02/2007 page2)