Leader of Hong Kong promises government accountability

HONG KONG -- Chastened by street protests, embattled leader Tung Chee-hwa admitted Thursday he had made mistakes and asked for a second chance, promising to listen more to Hong Kongers about an anti-subversion bill that fueled the uproar.

Critics immediately voiced doubts he would become an effective leader. The political crisis facing Tung's administration deepened Thursday with record unemployment figures announced less than 24 hours after the resignations of two Cabinet members.

Tung, who is not popularly elected and who reports to China, heads to Beijing on Saturday to explain the crisis to the central government while opponents at home clamor for him to step down.

In Beijing's first comment since the two resignations, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday the territory has "a bright future."

"Hong Kong has withstood various kinds of tests since its return and maintained its prosperity," the spokesman Kong Quan said.

Tung sought a fresh start at a news conference Thursday, ruling out resignation but promising greater accountability.

He said he had been left "sleepless" by the rally that brought a half-million people to the streets July 1 to denounce the anti-subversion bill, demanded by Beijing, but slammed by critics here who say it would erode Hong Kong's freedoms of speech and assembly.

"The public reminded me to adopt a more humble, sincere attitude to address their demands," Tung said.

"In the past six years, I have made mistakes," Tung said. "I understand people's criticisms and discontent toward me. But faced with such criticisms, what should my attitude be? I think I should actively face them and make improvements."

Lawmaker Margaret Ng, a persistent government critic, said it would take more than just words for Tung to become an effective leader and overcome his "blind spots" toward public opinion.

"I don't think it's going to work," Ng said. "I think it would be very, very difficult for him to change, and if he is bad for Hong Kong, we really have to let him go."

Tung's political crisis has become a test of the "one country, two systems" model that China promised for Hong Kong when it was returned by Britain in 1997. The system has constitutional guarantees that Hong Kong people can enjoy Western-style civil liberties unheard of in mainland China but also requires the anti-subversion legislation that stirred the crisis here.

Critics say Tung has lost the ability to govern, but that Beijing authorities are unlikely to seek to remove him now.

"It's still not time for Tung to resign," said Ivan Choy of the City University of Hong Kong. "Beijing needs time to make decisions. If you have a political vacuum, it will take time to fill. Even if he tries to resign, I think Beijing would advise him not to do so."

A bad economy is aggravating matters. The fallout from Hong Kong's recent SARS outbreak has pushed unemployment to a record 8.6 percent in the three months ending June 30, officials said Thursday.

Tung has yet to say how he will replace Secretary for Security Regina Ip and Financial Secretary Antony Leung, whose resignations were announced within hours of one another late Wednesday.

Ip was the key figure pushing the anti-subversion bill, although she said she quit for personal reasons. Leung stood down following revelations he could face criminal charges for buying a luxury car shortly before raising auto taxes, saving thousands of dollars.

Stocks fell on Leung's departure, with traders waiting to see whether Hong Kong's government can get back on track. The Hang Seng index lost 1.1 percent on the day.

Independent commentator Christine Loh said that removing Tung would present constitutional problems -- unless he dies or becomes ill.

Hong Kong has no way to fire a chief executive who has lost credibility, and Beijing would be reluctant to intervene in such a dramatic fashion, she said.

The anti-subversion bill that triggered the crisis would impose life prison sentences for some offenses. Such a law is required under Hong Kong's mini-constitution, but critics said Hong Kong's leaders tried to go too far with a measure that threatened civil liberties.

The bill is now on hold. Tung pledged Thursday to open a stronger dialogue with the public as he pushes forward with the measure, and to build public support.