Hong Kong finance chief shares views on qualities a chief executive should have, but stays mum on whether he’ll run

In an unusually candid exchange, John Tsang also says he has ‘skeletons’

Offering a rare glimpse of his political thinking, Hong Kong’s finance chief has sided with tycoon Li Ka-shing on the essential qualities needed for the city’s next chief executive – a position he is hotly tipped to pursue next year.

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah shared his views on governance at thePost’s latest Redefining Hong Kong Debate Series forum on Thursday, touching on an array of sensitive issues facing the city including economic uncertainties, tax increases as well as social and political conflicts.

Speaking before an audience comprising business leaders and professionals, he said he agreed with Li’s remarks on Wednesday describing the attributes he thought the city’s next chief executive should possess.

“One attribute is having good understanding of the community, having good empathy with the people, being really close to the ground as to what people aspire to be and how people want to live their life in the years to come,” Tsang said.

Li had said during a media interview that Hong Kong’s next top official should understand the city and fill it with hope.

However, the finance chief steered clear of delivering an assessment of his boss, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. Leung is said to be keen to seek re-election next year.

Tsang joked that in his 40-year working career he had learned “not to assess your boss”. He added: “I only have to say that all bosses are capable,” eliciting laughter from the audience.

Asked if he considered himself too “pure” to be a political leader, he admitted he had “skeletons” in the cupboard that would not escape public scrutiny.

“I’ve been a civil servant for over 30 years,” he said. “I’m sure all my skeletons are all over the community.”

Quoted from: http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1979669/hong-kong-finance-chief-shares-views-qualities-chief