Forecast on Tung 'exit' dismissed
By Joseph Li (China Daily HK Edition)
Updated: 2004-05-28 08:48

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa. [newsphoto/file]

The Chief Executive Office Thursday dismissed as speculative a report by the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit.

The EIU claimed that Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa may step down as early as next year in the midst of the debate on constitutional development.

The EIU said the Basic Law interpretation by the National Peoples Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) that ruled out direct elections for the chief executive and LegCo in 2007/08 would increase the chance that pro-democracy forces would gain control of LegCo in the September election and this would badly curtail the ability of Tung to work with LegCo.

We do not agree with the observations set out in the EIUs forecast concerning our high degree of autonomy and constitutional development, a government spokesman said.

On the chief executives term of office, the comments made in the forecast are sheer speculation. Tung has clearly indicated that he will continue to serve the community of Hong Kong until his present term expires, the spokesman said.

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