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Tsang elected HKSAR LegCo president

By Peggy Chan (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-10-09 10:03

HONG KONG: Jasper Tsang Yok-sing pledged to work impartially during the first meeting of the new Legislative Council (LegCo) term Wednesday after being elected as its president.

The 61-year-old founding chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) defeated Fred Li Wah-ming by 12 votes.

Tsang succeeds Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai who retired from the post.

Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, newly-elected president of the Legislative Council (LegCo) of Hong Kong SAR, speaks to a reporter October 8 2008. [CFP]

"It's a great honor for me to be elected as president of the LegCo," he said.

"I'm aware that in the four years ahead the work of the LegCo is full of challenges but I'm confident of doing the best with my colleagues," he told reporters.

He told the meeting that he would bear in mind the lawmakers' requirements and concerns, and not to let them down.

"I'm looking forward to working with my colleagues to turn challenges into accomplishments," he said.

Tsang was elected into the LegCo via direct elections in 1998 and is also a member of the Executive Council (ExCo).

But owing to potential conflict arising from the roles, he said he would resign the ExCo post.

But it was up to Chief Executive Donald Tsang to determine if another DAB member would replace him.

He said he would strike a balance between maintaining order in meetings and the right of all lawmakers to speak.

Earlier on in the meeting all 60 lawmakers were sworn in to take up a four-year term of office.

Tsang vowed to cooperate with his 59 colleagues despite the fact some harbor suspicions about his personal affiliations.

"Where my priority lies will be seen when I begin my work. I understand some colleagues need to establish trust and support in me based on my work, so I will prove my impartiality with my performance," he said.

In the secret ballot taken during the meeting, Tsang received 36 votes against Li's 24.

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