Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HONGKONG943
2006-03-07 11:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Hong Kong
Cable title:  

BEIJING LEADERS, YET AGAIN, REAFFIRM SUPPORT FOR

Tags:  CH HK PGOV PHUM PINR PREL 
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VZCZCXRO0700
PP RUEHCN
DE RUEHHK #0943/01 0661159
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 071159Z MAR 06
FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5345
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HONG KONG 000943 

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DEPT FOR EAP AND EAP/CM
NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2031
TAGS: CH HK PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: BEIJING LEADERS, YET AGAIN, REAFFIRM SUPPORT FOR
DONALD TSANG

REF: A. HONG KONG 5634

B. HONG KONG 686

Classified By: E/P Chief Simon Schuchat. Reasons: 1.4(b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HONG KONG 000943

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DEPT FOR EAP AND EAP/CM
NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2031
TAGS: CH HK PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: BEIJING LEADERS, YET AGAIN, REAFFIRM SUPPORT FOR
DONALD TSANG

REF: A. HONG KONG 5634

B. HONG KONG 686

Classified By: E/P Chief Simon Schuchat. Reasons: 1.4(b,d).


1. (C) Summary: On March 6, Chief Executive (CE) Donald Tsang
concluded a five-day trip to Beijing to attend the fourth
session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) in
Beijing -- his first time as CE. In recent weeks, Tsang has
been dogged by speculation, prompted by dissatisfaction among
Hong Kong's traditional, or "patriotic" leftists, that he had
lost the backing of mainland leaders. However, after senior
leaders praised his performance, Tsang has been able, at
least for the moment, to quash these rumors and return to
Hong Kong with Beijing's full support. In addition to
attending the NPC, Tsang met with officials from several
provinces and discussed the expansion of the individual
traveler scheme, closer integration of the Greater Pearl
River Delta, and the further liberalization of renminbi
business in Hong Kong. End Summary.

Tsang's First Trip to NPC as Chief Executive

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--------------


2. (SBU) On March 6, Chief Executive (CE) Donald Tsang
concluded a five-day trip to Beijing to attend the fourth
session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) in
Beijing -- his first time as CE. In recent weeks, Tsang has
been dogged by speculation that he had lost the backing of
Hong Kong's traditional leftists, as well as mainland
leaders. However, after numerous state ministers and senior
leaders praised his performance, Tsang has been able, at
least for the moment, to quash these rumors and return to
Hong Kong with Beijing's full support.

Anti-Tsang Campaign Quashed, At Least For Now
--------------


3. (C) Prior to his departure for Beijing, Tsang was
repeatedly questioned about why he was not scheduled to meet
with senior officials. During a press conference on March 2,
Tsang pointed out that he had recently met with President Hu

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Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao during a duty call last

December (ref a) and that he wanted to focus on "practical
matters, matters of economic and social interest to Hong
Kong." Despite this explanation, the Hong Kong media
published reports, probably emanating from Hong Kong's
"patriotic leftists," that Beijing had lost confidence in the
CE (ref b). In response, Albert Cheng, independent democrat
and former radio talk show host, alleged that the pro-Beijing
party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and
Alliance of Hong Kong (DAB),was spearheading an "anti-Donald
Tsang" campaign. DAB Chairman Ma Lik countered that Cheng

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was trying to drive a wedge between the CE and the
"patriotic" camp.

What's Their Beef?
--------------


4. (C) Shortly before the NPC began, we met with a Hong Kong
NPC delegate, who explained that the traditional pro-Beijing
forces were enraged at the CE over the appointment of Lau
Sai-leung to the Central Policy Unit, and Andy Ho as the CE's
Information Coordinator. Both of these people had been very
outspoken and critical of prominent members of the "patriotic
left," by name; the leftists thus saw these appointments as a
provocation. If the CE simply wanted someone from the
democratic side, he could have found someone who was not as
hostile. Lau, a former Executive Editor of Jimmy Lai's "Next
Magazine," was a constant critic of C.H. Tung, and blamed
everything Tung did on leftist influence. Of course, our NPC
contact continued, the Central Policy Unit has a
representative from the liberal or democratic side, but Lau
had personally attacked the CPU's resident leftist, Tsang
Tak-hsing (brother of senior DAB Exco member Jasper Tsang).
As for Andy Ho, he has been gone from Hong Kong for seven
years, in Australia, so what was the need to bring him back?
Neither position requires Beijing's approval, unlike bureau
Secretarial appointments, so there was no way to stop them.

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"Practical" and Image-enhancing Discussions in Beijing
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) By the end of Tsang's visit to Beijing, mainland
leaders had reaffirmed their support for the CE and had
effectively dispelled any rumors about an "anti-Tsang"
campaign. On March 5, Tsang briefly met with President Hu
Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao who, according to Tsang, "made

HONG KONG 00000943 002 OF 002


various encouraging remarks to me." On March 6, Tsang
revealed that he had met with Vice President Zeng Qinghong
for over an hour on March 2 and with Hong Kong and Macau
Affairs Office (HKMAO) Director Liao Hui the following day.
Summarizing his meeting with the two leaders, Tsang told the
media, "they are highly encouraging as regards the leadership
of Hong Kong, comprising the CE, the principal officials and
the SAR Government." On top of his sessions with Zeng and
Liao, Tsang also received a chorus of praise from the
numerous other mainland leaders that he met with during his
trip. National Development and Reform Commission Minister Ma
Kai commended Tsang on a job well done; Minister of Commerce
Bo Xilai praised Tsang's style of governance as meticulous,
systematic, and effective.


6. (C) Veteran China watcher Ding Wang told poloffs on March
7, that Tsang's meeting with Zeng and Liao were appropriate
and not likely to be in response to the media speculation
about an anti-Tsang campaign. Ding noted that Zeng is the
head of the working group on Hong Kong policy. As for Liao
Hui, as head of HKMAO, it would be more surprising for him
not to meet with Tsang. According to Ding, Tsang and Liao
have a close relationship, partly because Liao is the most
senior official in Beijing fluent in Cantonese and thus able
to communicate easily with Tsang. Ding believes that Liao
was crucial in Tsang's promotion to CE.


7. (C) Tsang told reporters that he had not discussed the
"anti-Tsang" campaign with mainland leaders but had focused
on practical issues. Tsang met with party secretaries and
governors of the provinces of Guizhou, Guangdong, Jiangxi,
Guangxi, Hunan and Nanchang city to discuss the expansion of
the individual traveler scheme. He also discussed closer
integration of the Greater Pearl River Delta. On his last
day in Beijing, Tsang discussed the further liberalization of
renminbi business in Hong Kong -- an important area for Hong
Kong's financial sector, which seeks to become an offshore
renminbi center -- with People's Bank of China Governor Zhou
Xiaochu. Asked whether he had raised the detention of
"Straits Times" journalist Ching Cheong during a meeting with
the Public Security Ministry, Tsang replied that Ching's case
was not under the purview of the Public Security Ministry.
(Note: It was not clear whether Tsang meant that, having been
charged, Ching's case was now the responsibility of the
courts, or if he meant that Ching's alleged "espionage" was
the responsibility of the Ministry of State Security. End
note.) He reassured the journalists, however, that he had
"been working on this subject all along," without offering
any additional details.

CPPCC Delegates Urged to Speak Out
--------------


8. (SBU) Separately, Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference (CPPCC) Chairman Jia Qinglin told Hong Kong
delegates to the CPPCC on March 6, that the central
government fully supported both CEs and the governments of
Hong Kong and Macau. Jia called on CPPCC members to play a
more active role in the "social and political realms in Hong
Kong and Macau...They can take the initiative to contribute
their views and advice on the internal affairs of the SARs as
well as their governance."
Ma Lik, DAB Chairman and NPC deputy, responded positively to
Jia's remarks. However, Democratic Party Chairman Lee
Wing-tat said, "it will give people a feeling that they
(CPPCC delegates) are speaking on behalf of the central
government. Hong Kong has a high degree of autonomy under
the Basic Law and it will be crossing the line under Mr.
Jia's suggestions."
Cunningham