SCMP:Chief keeps quiet over calls for his resignation

8 July 2009

He lambasted pan-democrats for disrupting his speech and denied he was a "fugitive" from environmental protection. But during a rowdy Legislative Council question time, the chief executive left one issue unanswered: calls for his resignation.

In the heat of the battle, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was also accused of turning a blind eye to the plight of people who lost money on Lehman Brothers-linked minibonds. They, and several other groups, formed a banner-waving mob blocking almost all entrances to the Legco building.
"Tsang Yam-kuen, step down!" shouted the protesters, among them minibonds victims seeking government help, green groups and pan-democrats demanding a speedy introduction of universal suffrage.

But when the convoy of chauffeur-driven vehicles arrived at the Legco building, Mr Tsang stepped out of his car and determinedly walked towards the entrance, ignoring the petitions thrust at him.

Adopting the same attitude, Mr Tsang tried to tackle the political controversy over the July 1 march during his speech to open question time.

But among his conclusions on the "two categories" of July 1 demands, he left out the two strongest calls demanded by marchers: his resignation and government assistance to minibonds victims.

He was interrupted three times by legislators from the League of Social Democrats, who demanded to know why he had ignored the plight of minibonds victims, including one who recently killed herself.

"You are really shameless for ignoring them," shouted League legislator Leung Kwok-hung, before he was removed. "A Lehman Brothers' victim has killed herself - her [ghost] is waiting for you outside."

Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun and unionist Lee Cheuk-yan accused Mr Tsang of playing up youth drug abuse to divert attention from universal suffrage and governance problems.

"The chief executive did not calm people's anger on July 1. He had no response to the people's demands, including universal suffrage and the minibonds saga," Mr Lee said.

There was an uproar when Mr Tsang cut short Legco president Tsang Yok-sing's announcement of the end of the meeting to air grievances "suppressed inside me for a long time".

The chief executive then read a prepared script lambasting lawmakers for interrupting him earlier, thus dishonouring the Hong Kong spirit of inclusiveness. When he was done, Democrat Lee Wing-tat protested, saying the Legco president was biased because he allowed the chief executive to speak but stopped others when they tried to question him.

Meanwhile Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen found an easier way to avoid protesters. "Of course I am not scared," he said, when caught using the rear entrance. "I always like using the elevator at the back."