HONG KONG, March 12 -- Donald Tsang, a career bureaucrat who rose to the top of Hong Kong's civil service and earned a knighthood under British rule, took office as the territory's interim leader Saturday, even as China and its allies here signaled he did not enjoy their complete support.
Tsang's appointment came as the Chinese government accepted the resignation of his embattled predecessor, Tung Chee-hwa, and rewarded the former shipping magnate with a face-saving promotion to a national advisory body. Citing failing health, Tung resigned Thursday after China appeared to lose confidence in his ability to manage rising public demands for greater democracy.
Donald Tsang, center, answers questions at a news conference in Hong Kong following his appointment as the territory's interim chief executive.
(Vincent Yu -- Ap)
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In a televised address, Tsang said he would serve as Hong Kong's acting chief executive until a permanent replacement was selected July 10. Under the territory's constitution, the appointment will be made by an 800-member committee dominated by allies of China's ruling Communist Party.
China has already decided to direct the committee to give the job to Tsang, government sources said. But in a sign it does not fully trust him, an official said the new chief executive would serve only the remainder of Tung's term, or about two years, instead of a new five-year term as called for in the territory's constitution.
In addition, several Hong Kong cabinet members allied to the mainland government who were visiting Beijing ignored a request by Tsang to return for an emergency meeting to discuss the transition. One member, Cheng Yiu-tong, said he could not make it because he had to attend a banquet, while another, Jasper Tsang, said he did not think the meeting in Hong Kong was urgent.
The snub highlights the challenge Tsang faces as he becomes only the second person to lead Hong Kong since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Like his predecessor, Tsang will be forced to answer a growing democracy movement in the former British colony while obeying a Chinese leadership that has refused to expand elections.
Tsang will also have to earn the trust of mainland officials and pro-Beijing politicians in Hong Kong who are wary of his long career with the former colonial government and his reputation as a devout Roman Catholic. The church has been at the center of democratic activism here and helped organize huge marches in the past two years that drew hundreds of thousands of people.
In a sign of his weak position, Tsang said all of the cabinet members appointed by Tung would remain in office. Some of them, including Henry Tang, the financial secretary, are believed to be political rivals and analysts said they might seek to undermine Tsang, preventing him from winning another term in 2007. Beijing had asked Tsang not to reshuffle the cabinet, local media reported.
"The government will continue operating smoothly and effectively," Tsang said. "The rule of law and social order will remain intact."
The Hong Kong government has previously said that any chief executive appointed by Beijing to replace Tung should get a new, five-year term as called for in the territory's constitution, known as the Basic Law. But Justice Secretary Elsie Leung said Saturday she was changing the government's position after consulting mainland legal scholars.
The reversal prompted an outcry from pro-democracy lawmakers, who warned that Beijing was violating the autonomy it had promised the territory. Some said they would challenge the decision in court. "It is the biggest blow to Hong Kong since the handover," said Ronny Tong, a member of the Legislative Council.
Pan reported from Beijing.
