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SCMP

This article was first published on June 22, 2005.
Help me to make a new start: Tsang
by Gary Cheung and Dikky Sinn
Donald Tsang Yam-kuen on Tuesday (June 21, 2005) called on local people to join him in starting a new chapter for Hong Kong following his appointment as chief executive, saying he would safeguard the overall interests of the city with concrete action.
The salesman-turned-leader pledged to engage in dialogue with people from different walks of life and reach out to the public through district visits.
“Without Beijing’s and the public’s support, I will have nothing,” he said.
Premier Wen Jiabao, who signed the appointment decree installing Mr Tsang as chief executive after a State Council meeting, said he believed the Hong Kong government under Mr Tsang could reap greater achievements in promoting the city’s prosperity and stability.

Mr Wen praised Mr Tsang for making a great contribution to safeguarding the “one country, two systems” concept and the Basic Law, as well as maintaining the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong while serving as financial secretary and chief secretary.
“Mr Tsang has worked for the Hong Kong government for more than 30 years and is familiar with the overall situation in Hong Kong and the operation of government work,” the premier said. “He exhibits relatively strong capabilities in administrative management.
“The fact that Mr Tsang was nominated and supported by 714 Election Committee members shows that he enjoys extensive recognition and support from various walks of life in Hong Kong.
“I believe Mr Tsang and his government could lead the Hong Kong people to overcome all the difficulties they may come across in the future and thus reap greater achievements in promoting prosperity and stability in Hong Kong.”
Mr Tsang is due to fly to Beijing tomorrow to take his oath of office at a ceremony presided over by Mr Wen the following day. Mr Tsang is expected to be received by other state leaders including President Hu Jintao.

He will be accompanied by Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie and Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung. They are members of the government task force on constitutional development headed by Mr Tsang when he was chief secretary.
Mr Tsang said he had no intention of discussing the electoral arrangement in 2007 and 2008 with state leaders during his trip despite the participation of the two top officials in the delegation. “This time, I’m just going to take the oath. I want to bring along one policy secretary and a bureau director, so that I won’t feel lonely [during the trip].”
In March 2002, former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa was accompanied only by Mr Lam – then information coordinator – and his private secretary Richard Yuen Ming-fai on his trip to Beijing where he received an appointment letter for his second term from then-premier Zhu Rongji. Then-president Jiang Zemin presided over the swearing-in of Mr Tung for his second term at a ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of the handover at the Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Some officials said they had no idea why Mr Tsang had picked Miss Leung and Mr Lam to join him in Beijing but they did not believe that he would discuss political reform with state leaders during the visit. Mr Tsang also denied that his plan to revamp the Executive Council and the Commission on Strategic Development were aimed at granting favours to political groups.
He said he would strive to restore harmony and inclusiveness in the community but declined to pledge that there would not be another interpretation of the Basic Law during his tenure. On the detention of Hong Kong-based journalist Ching Cheong on the mainland for spying, Mr Tsang said he hoped to raise concerns of Hong Kong people with the authorities at the right time.


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Hong Kong politics

Donald Tsang becomes Hong Kong’s second chief executive in 2005 – from the SCMP archive

Donald Tsang announces his appointment as Hong Kong’s chief executive on June 21, 2005. File photo: Ricky Chung 

A clipping from the front page of the SCMP’s June 22, 2005 issue. Photo: SCMP 

Former Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang, then the city’s chief secretary, walks past reporters after meeting with his would-be predecessor Tung Chee-hwa in Central on March 9, 2005. Photo: Robert Ng 

Hong Kong’s first and second leaders, Tung Chee-hwa (left) and Donald Tsang, appear at a party marking the 13th anniversary of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) on July 12, 2005. Photo: Robert Ng

Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation opens the Island line in 1985 — from the SCMP archive

Turnstiles at one of the MTR’s stations keep turning as the Island line formally opened on May 31, 1985. Photo: Robin Lam 

Tai Koo station on the opening day of the Island line. Photo: P.Y. Tang

A front page clipping from SCMP’s June 1, 1985 issue. Photo: SCMP

Workers celebrate the linking of the eastern and western tunnels between Admiralty and Sheung Wan via Central. Photo: Chan Kiu

Hong Kong’s then-governor Sir Edward Youde (second from the front left) in Tai Koo station. Photo: P.Y. Tang

An advert for the MTR Island line from SCMP’s May 31, 1985 issue. Photo: SCMP

Controllers of China Motor Bus keeping order in a Cross-Harbour Tunnel bus stop as the company’s competitor, the MTR Corporation, opened its Island line. Photo: Robin Lam

Naval guns, crowds welcome Queen Elizabeth to Hong Kong in 1975 – from the SCMP archive

A historic moment for Hong Kong as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrive at Kai Tak Airport on May 4, 1975. Photo: Chan Kiu

Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip arrive at Kai Tak airport on May 4, 1975. Photo: SCMP

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip at the Queen’s Pier during their visit to Hong Kong on May 4, 1975. Photo: Chan Kiu 

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on board the government yacht Lady Maurine on May 4, 1975. Photo: SCMP

Queen Elizabeth II leaving for Government House in a limousine after a welcoming ceremony at the City Hall on May 4, 1975. Photo: SCMP

Queen Elizabeth II (left), accompanied by the Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose, visit a street market at Graham Street in Central during a royal tour of Hong Kong on May 5, 1975. Photo: SCMP

Pop star Leslie Cheung dies in fall from Hong Kong hotel in 2003 – from the SCMP archive

Hong Kong actor and singer Leslie Cheung died after a fall in 2003. Photo: Michael Tsui

Flowers and notes left by fans outside the Mandarin Oriental hotel for Leslie Cheung on April 2, 2003. Photo: Robert Ng

Cheung in April 1988. Photo: Chu Ming-hoi

Clipping from SCMP’s April 2, 2003 issue. Photo: SCMP

Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-wai in the film Happy Together. Photo: Jet Tone Production

Fans of Leslie Cheung wave to the hearse after his funeral service outside Hong Kong Funeral Home, North Point, on April 8, 2003. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Fans lay flowers and photos of late Cantopop star Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing in Tsim Sha Tsui on March 31, 2025. Photo: Jelly Tse

Farewell to Lui Che-woo: Donald Tsang, Carrie Lam among 10 pallbearers of Hong Kong tycoon

Guests arrived at the Hong Kong Funeral Home in North Point for Lui Che-woo’s funeral on 4 December 2024. Photo: Sam Tsang

A programme at the funeral of the tycoon Lui Che-woo listing the pallbearers on December 4, 2024 at the Hong Kong Funeral Home in North Point. Photo: Yulu Ao 

Flowers sent by Joe Tsai, the chairman of Alibaba Group, are seen at Hong Kong Funeral Home in North Point for Lui. Photo: Sam Tsang

News

Hong Kong

Politics

Society

On this day 20 years ago, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen succeeded Tung Chee-hwa as Hong Kong’s leader, a post he held until 2012


On this day 20 years ago, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen succeeded Tung Chee-hwa as Hong Kong’s leader, a post he held until 2012.


Donald Tsang

China

Wen Jiabao

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}On this day 20 years ago, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen succeeded Tung Chee-hwa as Hong Kong’s leader, a post he held until 2012

Help me to make a new start: Tsang

On this day 20 years ago, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen succeeded Tung Chee-hwa as Hong Kong’s leader, a post he held until 2012