Hong Kong’s crisis deepens as resignations fuel demands

HONG KONG plunged deeper into crisis yesterday after the resignations of two top Cabinet ministers added fuel to demands for democratic change and put further pressure on leader Tung Chee-hwa.

Financial markets were on edge after the resignations of deeply unpopular Security Secretary Regina Ip and Financial Secretary Antony Leung, which raised fresh questions about the government’s ability to revive what was once one of the world’s most dynamic economies.

Mr Tung gave little explanation for the departures on Wednesday and did not name their successors. He kept his usual distance despite pleas from local newspapers to show more leadership.

The Beijing-backed leader, who has been accused of being indecisive and out of touch with the public, merely waved at journalists as he moved in and out of his office on Thursday.

He flies to Beijing on Saturday where he is expected to report to his political masters on the city’s biggest political crisis in years, offer names of possible new Cabinet members and outline plans on how he hopes to keep the government running despite massive public protests.

Some residents and newspapers said the resignations were too little, too late.

The South China Morning Post said Mr Tung’s handling of the resignations had only deepened the political crisis, which began on July 1 when half a million people took to the streets to denounce the government and its controversial plans for an anti-subversion law.