Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa’s resignation has been greeted with the approval of the majority of Hong Kong citizens. During his seven-year tenure as Hong Kong’s first chief executive following the return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, Tung has made a number of serious political and policy mistakes that have resulted in a collapse of the confidence of Hong Kong people in the government’s ability to govern. It is only right that Tung should shoulder the responsibility for this collapse.

However, the hand-picked ’small-circle’ election committee that originally appointed Tung is also set to appoint his replacement in July 2005. The prospect has done nothing to reduce the anger that many of us feel at once again being denied the opportunity to elect our own leaders. Tung’s successor will require Beijing’s approval and, as the mass demonstrations for universal suffrage have demonstrated, such approval has little connection with the wishes of the majority of the people of Hong Kong.

HKCTU calls on all the members of the election committee and for the new Chief Executive to be elected by the people of Hong Kong. Universal suffrage exercised via free and fair elections is the only way of ensuring that the new Chief Executive enjoys a genuine legitimacy.