Over a month after he tendered his resignation, former Financial Secretary John Tsang has finally announced his candidacy in the upcoming Chief Executive election.
During a press conference this afternoon, Tsang stood in front of a billboard emblazoned with his campaign slogan: “Trust, unity, hope”.
“I have been fortunate to have held in my 34 years of public service a good number of positions in a wide range of policy areas,” Tsang said to reporters. “So much so that I dare to say: I know Hong Kong.”
The veteran politician spoke of his belief that Hong Kong could grow into a “leading international finance centre on the back of [China’s] economic strength”. However, he said that this potential was being threatened by “disruptive elements” like “the anger, the polarisation, the occasional irrational talks of independence”.
Tsang called for citizens to “pay tribute to diversity, inclusiveness and rationality”, which he called the “core values … for all the people of Hong Kong”.
He addressed the growing wealth gap and housing crisis, and said incumbent CE Leung’s administration’s solution for the latter was “largely correct”. “I wish to state clearly my intention to keep producing more land and more housing to tackle the problems of housing shortage, ageing buildings, and high property prices.”
The 65-year-old acknowledged the growing discontent amongst young Hongkongers, comparing it to the wave of emigration that took place during the city’s “crisis of confidence” in the 1980s. “Back then, many citizens wanted to leave. Now emigration has become a hot-button issue yet again.”
Tsang stated clearly that he considered China to be an intrinsic part of Hong Kong’s identity. “Behind every great city is a mighty country. Without the United Kingdom, there would be no London; without United States of America, there would be no New York. Hong Kong can become better, because we are opening our arms to a great motherland.”
“Where others see a depressing situation, I see courage in changing the course of history; where others see a society torn apart, I see dawn at the end of a long dark night. If I can see a future for Hong Kong, so can we all.”
Read the full text of Tsang’s speech in Chinese and English here.
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