Financial Secretary John Tsang said he’d take the job; Jasper Tsang said he would, too – if there’s no better candidate
(From left) John Tsang, Leung Chun-ying, and Jasper Tsang are all icons. Both Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah and outgoing Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing have declared that they might run for the city’s top job.
At 10am last Friday, Commercial Radio broadcast a pre-recorded interview with John Tsang, 65, in which the finance chief said for the first time that he is “willing to take up the job as chief executive if it can help [him] contribute to society”.
He continued: “There is absolutely no doubt that I love Hong Kong. But you all know that it is a bad job ... and it is difficult to do because all chief executives are bound to be criticised, and no one would be happy. I hope society can return to rationality, that would be encouraging for capable people.”
The financial secretary said the city’s next chief executive should possess a “good understanding of the community, and good empathy for the people”.
Jasper Tsang also shared his views on the chief executive race earlier last Friday.
“If no one else really wants to run, and if it turns out it is both necessary and possible for me to stand as a candidate to offer a genuine choice – at least to the election committee – then I will consider that. But still, I hope other much better qualified candidates, much better than I am, would come out.”
Tsang, 69, said he was “fully aware of” his shortcomings in relation to the role of Hong Kong’s leader – namely his lack of experience in the administration and his age.
Young Post junior reporter Henry Lui, 17, preferred Jasper Tsang as the next chief executive because of the outstanding leadership skills he has shown in Legco.
“Jasper Tsang would definitely do a better job than other chief executives have done,” says Henry.
Another junior reporter, Joshua Lee, 17, believes any extra competition will make for a better election. “It sends a message to Leung Chun-ying that he can’t just expect to run in the next election and win,” says Joshua. “It should make him realise that he needs to prove himself to Beijing if he wants to run again in the next election.”