Executive and legislative branches face tense time ( 2003-07-15 15:41) (China Daily HK Edition)
A fraught time lies ahead for relations between the executive and the
legislative branches in Hong Kong, Legislative Council President Rita Fan
predicted.
Hong Kong Chief Executive
Tung Chee-hwa (C), Donald Tsang, the Chief Secretary for Administration
and Antony Leung, Financial Secretary attend a news conference at a
central government office in Hong Kong July 5, 2003.
[Reuters] | She said concord between the two sides has not improved since Hong Kong's
launch of the accountability system for principal officials. And since 2004 is
an election year, she forecast more occasions of heated debates and flying
tempers in the Legislative Council in the new session.
Addressing a year-end press conference, Fan said both sides have to reflect
on why the situation has come to this.
"The citizens may not be too happy to find the two institutions see eye to
eye on every issue, but they certainly don't want to see us arguing all day long
for mere matters of face or unnecessary matters," she said.
"What they hope is we can concentrate our efforts or put forward good
suggestions to improve the economy or their welfare."
Asked if she felt let down that the accountability system had not improved
the bilateral relationship, she said: "I am not disappointed because I did not
expect this from the start."
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