cheesebeast
17-07-2003, 01:13
Two Hong Kong ministers resign amid government unpopularity
1 hour, 58 minutes ago
HONG KONG (AFP) - Hong Kong announced the resignation of two key ministers amid deepening criticism of the government, which was badly shaken by massive pro-democracy protests this month.
Tung first announced the resignation of Security Secretary Regina Ip, who spearheaded efforts to pass a controversial anti-subversion bill that sparked three major protests this month.
Hours later, Financial Secretary Antony Leung, embroiled in a scandal about his purchase of a luxury car just weeks before he announced a hike in taxes on such vehicles, announced he had also quit.
The resignations come amid deepening public unhappiness with the Beijing-backed government, with Tung being heavily criticised for his handling of the crisis over the anti-subversion bill, the SARS (news - web sites) outbreak and the economy.
A poll last month showed Tung's popularity had fallen to its lowest point since he took power six years ago, and some analysts have suggested Beijing was contemplating his removal.
Ip in particular attracted much criticism for her hard line on the security bill and had been under public pressure to step down because of her refusal to amend the planned law or seek more consultation on it.
Tung said she had tendered her resignation for personal reasons on June 25 -- before 500,000 people protested against the bill on July 1 in the territory's biggest demonstration in more than a decade.
The July 1 protest rocked the government and led to Tung first making three major concessions on the legislation and then shelving it.
It was followed by another protest on July 9 -- the day the bill was due to have been passed -- when 50,000 demonstrators called on the territory's leadership to step down over the bill.
And on Sunday, more than 15,000 demonstrators rallied outside government buildings to campaign for a democratically elected leader and universal suffrage.
The Basic Law -- the former British colony's mini-constitution since it was returned to China in 1997 -- requires the city to pass the security law.
Critics fear it will infringe certain rights and freedoms, claims that were consistently rejected by Ip.
The Basic Law also states that direct elections for the chief executive will not be staged before 2007.
Ip, who became a member of Tung's cabinet in July last year, said in a statement Wednesday she regretted that the bill was not passed as scheduled but was confident her successor would be able to accomplish the task.
"In formulating the proposals, we have tried our best to strike a balance between protecting national security and safeguarding Hong Kong people's rights and freedoms," she said.
Democratic Party chairman Yeung Sum said Ip's resignation was a "good thing" as it could open the way for more consultations on the proposed security law.
But Maria Tam, a member of the Chinese parliament, the National People's Congress, told reporters her departure would have no effect on the passage of the bill as it had already entered a "mature" stage.
Leung came under pressure to resign after it was revealed he had bought a luxury car just weeks before he announced in March the government's budget in which taxes on such cars were hiked.
But Leung, a former international banker who took over as financial secretary in May 2001, said he had nothing to be ashamed of.
"I am glad that I have had the opportunity to serve the people of Hong Kong, which I have carried out in all respects with a clear conscience at all times," he said in a statement announcing he was quitting.
1 hour, 58 minutes ago
HONG KONG (AFP) - Hong Kong announced the resignation of two key ministers amid deepening criticism of the government, which was badly shaken by massive pro-democracy protests this month.
Tung first announced the resignation of Security Secretary Regina Ip, who spearheaded efforts to pass a controversial anti-subversion bill that sparked three major protests this month.
Hours later, Financial Secretary Antony Leung, embroiled in a scandal about his purchase of a luxury car just weeks before he announced a hike in taxes on such vehicles, announced he had also quit.
The resignations come amid deepening public unhappiness with the Beijing-backed government, with Tung being heavily criticised for his handling of the crisis over the anti-subversion bill, the SARS (news - web sites) outbreak and the economy.
A poll last month showed Tung's popularity had fallen to its lowest point since he took power six years ago, and some analysts have suggested Beijing was contemplating his removal.
Ip in particular attracted much criticism for her hard line on the security bill and had been under public pressure to step down because of her refusal to amend the planned law or seek more consultation on it.
Tung said she had tendered her resignation for personal reasons on June 25 -- before 500,000 people protested against the bill on July 1 in the territory's biggest demonstration in more than a decade.
The July 1 protest rocked the government and led to Tung first making three major concessions on the legislation and then shelving it.
It was followed by another protest on July 9 -- the day the bill was due to have been passed -- when 50,000 demonstrators called on the territory's leadership to step down over the bill.
And on Sunday, more than 15,000 demonstrators rallied outside government buildings to campaign for a democratically elected leader and universal suffrage.
The Basic Law -- the former British colony's mini-constitution since it was returned to China in 1997 -- requires the city to pass the security law.
Critics fear it will infringe certain rights and freedoms, claims that were consistently rejected by Ip.
The Basic Law also states that direct elections for the chief executive will not be staged before 2007.
Ip, who became a member of Tung's cabinet in July last year, said in a statement Wednesday she regretted that the bill was not passed as scheduled but was confident her successor would be able to accomplish the task.
"In formulating the proposals, we have tried our best to strike a balance between protecting national security and safeguarding Hong Kong people's rights and freedoms," she said.
Democratic Party chairman Yeung Sum said Ip's resignation was a "good thing" as it could open the way for more consultations on the proposed security law.
But Maria Tam, a member of the Chinese parliament, the National People's Congress, told reporters her departure would have no effect on the passage of the bill as it had already entered a "mature" stage.
Leung came under pressure to resign after it was revealed he had bought a luxury car just weeks before he announced in March the government's budget in which taxes on such cars were hiked.
But Leung, a former international banker who took over as financial secretary in May 2001, said he had nothing to be ashamed of.
"I am glad that I have had the opportunity to serve the people of Hong Kong, which I have carried out in all respects with a clear conscience at all times," he said in a statement announcing he was quitting.