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Hong Kong’s Beijing-Backed Leader Says He Will Not Seek Re-election Hong Kong’s Beijing-Backed Leader Says He Will Not Seek Re-election
(about 11 hours later)
HONG KONG — Leung Chun-ying, the unpopular Beijing-backed leader of Hong Kong whose government has controversially tried to block or remove elected opposition politicians from office, said on Friday that he would not seek a second term.HONG KONG — Leung Chun-ying, the unpopular Beijing-backed leader of Hong Kong whose government has controversially tried to block or remove elected opposition politicians from office, said on Friday that he would not seek a second term.
“I must make a responsible choice between fulfilling my responsibilities to society and to my family,” he said at a news conference on Friday afternoon, adding that a campaign would impose “unbearable stress” on his family.“I must make a responsible choice between fulfilling my responsibilities to society and to my family,” he said at a news conference on Friday afternoon, adding that a campaign would impose “unbearable stress” on his family.
Mr. Leung has occupied the post of chief executive, the city’s highest, since 2012. He is the first chief executive to refrain from seeking re-election since Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to Chinese rule in 1997.Mr. Leung has occupied the post of chief executive, the city’s highest, since 2012. He is the first chief executive to refrain from seeking re-election since Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
Critics of Mr. Leung have viewed whether he would run as a sign of the Chinese government’s endorsement of his hard-line policies in Hong Kong, a semiautonomous territory. In the past few years, under Mr. Leung’s leadership, concerns have grown in the city over an erosion in civil liberties and, more recently, a crackdown on political opposition.Critics of Mr. Leung have viewed whether he would run as a sign of the Chinese government’s endorsement of his hard-line policies in Hong Kong, a semiautonomous territory. In the past few years, under Mr. Leung’s leadership, concerns have grown in the city over an erosion in civil liberties and, more recently, a crackdown on political opposition.
“Everyone in Hong Kong can see that the central authorities, including the top leaders in the country, have been very supportive of my work over all these years,” he said, a denial that he was dropping out because of Beijing’s disapproval.“Everyone in Hong Kong can see that the central authorities, including the top leaders in the country, have been very supportive of my work over all these years,” he said, a denial that he was dropping out because of Beijing’s disapproval.
In a statement, the Chinese government’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said it was “regretful” of Mr. Leung’s decision not to run and praised his contribution in upholding national sovereignty and stability in Hong Kong.In a statement, the Chinese government’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said it was “regretful” of Mr. Leung’s decision not to run and praised his contribution in upholding national sovereignty and stability in Hong Kong.
Mr. Leung was accused last week of waging a “coup” as he tried to unseat four elected pro-democracy legislators with a legal challenge over the way they took their oaths of office. An earlier judicial review he initiated disqualified two separatists from taking places in the legislature, but his move to challenge the four seated lawmakers, who do not advocate Hong Kong’s independence from China, was seen as a broader crackdown on opposition.Mr. Leung was accused last week of waging a “coup” as he tried to unseat four elected pro-democracy legislators with a legal challenge over the way they took their oaths of office. An earlier judicial review he initiated disqualified two separatists from taking places in the legislature, but his move to challenge the four seated lawmakers, who do not advocate Hong Kong’s independence from China, was seen as a broader crackdown on opposition.
The six politicians targeted by Mr. Leung were among more than 10 who inserted political statements into their oaths of office in October. Two of them, the pro-independence Sixtus Leung and Yau Wai-ching, added an alternative name for China that many see as derogatory and pledged allegiance to the Hong Kong “nation,” prompting a rare legal intervention from the Chinese government.The six politicians targeted by Mr. Leung were among more than 10 who inserted political statements into their oaths of office in October. Two of them, the pro-independence Sixtus Leung and Yau Wai-ching, added an alternative name for China that many see as derogatory and pledged allegiance to the Hong Kong “nation,” prompting a rare legal intervention from the Chinese government.
“The timing of this is an attempt to relieve pressure in society against the government’s suppression of legislators,” said Nathan Law, who is among the four legislators whose qualification for office is being challenged. “There may be a stick following the carrot. We must not let our guards down.”“The timing of this is an attempt to relieve pressure in society against the government’s suppression of legislators,” said Nathan Law, who is among the four legislators whose qualification for office is being challenged. “There may be a stick following the carrot. We must not let our guards down.”
In the four years since Mr. Leung took office, Hong Kong has had large street protests demanding greater democracy amid wide-ranging economic grievances, including housing in a property market regularly ranked as one of the world’s least affordable.In the four years since Mr. Leung took office, Hong Kong has had large street protests demanding greater democracy amid wide-ranging economic grievances, including housing in a property market regularly ranked as one of the world’s least affordable.
In the Friday news conference, Mr. Leung did not provide details about his family issues, though the local news media reported this week that he had visited a hospital where his daughter was said to be receiving treatment.In the Friday news conference, Mr. Leung did not provide details about his family issues, though the local news media reported this week that he had visited a hospital where his daughter was said to be receiving treatment.
“My daughter has only one father, and my wife has only one husband,” he said on Friday.“My daughter has only one father, and my wife has only one husband,” he said on Friday.
In a widely reported episode in 2015, Mr. Leung said that his older daughter, Leung Chai-yan, had health issues after she accused him and her mother of abuse. In a widely reported episode in 2015, Mr. Leung said that his older daughter had health issues after she accused him and her mother of abuse. Mr. Leung has two daughters and a son.
Mr. Leung has two daughters and a son. His move to open up the office to other candidates is unlikely to lead to drastic changes in terms of Hong Kong’s relationship with China. The chief executive is selected by an elite committee dominated by Beijing loyalists. On Sunday, members of professional and special interest groups from dozens of sectors such as agriculture, banking and education will vote fewer than 1,200 people onto the committee. The chief executive may at most serve two consecutive five-year terms.
His move to open up the office to other candidates is unlikely to lead to drastic changes in terms of Hong Kong’s relationship with China. The chief executive is selected by an elite committee dominated by Beijing loyalists. On Sunday, members of professional and special interest groups from dozens of sectors such as agriculture, banking and education will vote fewer than 1,200 people onto the committee. The chief executive may at most serve two consecutive, five-year terms.
“We want not only a change in the person, we want to change the system,” said Lau Siu-lai, another pro-democracy legislator, who rose to fame during the 2014 Umbrella Movement protests that sought freer elections of the chief executive.“We want not only a change in the person, we want to change the system,” said Lau Siu-lai, another pro-democracy legislator, who rose to fame during the 2014 Umbrella Movement protests that sought freer elections of the chief executive.
Mr. Leung will stay in office for six months until the inauguration of his successor, who will be elected in March.Mr. Leung will stay in office for six months until the inauguration of his successor, who will be elected in March.