Word: tsang
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...TIME: Given your British background, does Beijing trust you? TSANG: I am the Chief Executive. I am the person appointed by the central government. I am the only constitutional link between the central government and the people of Hong Kong. I trust [Beijing] for being selfless in running Hong Kong. And I do not think that feeling is one-directional...
...TIME: Does Beijing understand and appreciate how complex a society Hong Kong is today, with so many competing interests? TSANG: They understand it very well. In fact, they understand it so well that they are a bit worried whether we are able to come to a consensus, which they are keen to have. When we achieve universal suffrage, it is so important that the majority of Hong Kong people support it, that it does not undermine Hong Kong's position as an international financial center, and that it not undermine our good relations with the mainland. Hong Kong people, whom...
...TIME: Many Hong Kongers-regular folk, not political opponents-say you and your government lack leadership and vision. TSANG: That's an easy description of any leader. Tell me any living, serving leader who has been given the reputation of [being visionary]. That sort of accolade comes after their deaths. I've no ambition at all to be given the reputation: Ah, he's a visionary leader...
...TIME: You worked a long time with the British, and now with the Chinese. What's the difference? TSANG: We are a lot freer now. The only thing the central government has a keen interest in is our constitutional development. Every other thing, our economic policy, our social policy, is run from here. Before 1997, London would clear those things. Every morning I would spend three quarters of an hour reading telegrams from London, and do another two hours of [related] work. I never do that...
...TIME: So Beijing is not micromanaging your government? TSANG: Not micromanaging. Not [even] managing. There are things they are interested in. Foreign affairs, but I don't care about that. That is done by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative here. As for national defense, we have got the People's Liberation Army here. They are much more well-behaved and disciplined than their British counterparts before. Previously, every week, there would be brawls...