Day 1 and Day 2 coverage.

Jake van der Kamp in today's SCMP on Tung's legacy:

The fact is that, in the run-up to the handover of sovereignty in 1997, the world's press was full of speculation that Hong Kong's civil liberties would vanish when we came under Beijing's thumb.

It never happened. Thus if foreign journalists are now to issue a report card on Mr Tung's administration, the first thing they should say is that in one key area of particular interest to them, he fully lived up to the high hopes vested in him. They owe him that much, at least, after all the doubts they cast on him in 1997. We have our civil liberties as fully as we ever had them under British administration and this is a very good record.

The term of office of the Chief Executive (CE) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be five years. He or she may serve for not more than two consecutive terms.

Beijing would be able to test the leadership qualities and loyalty of Mr Tsang while keeping other aspirants for the top post in 2007. This could be vital, as resistance and suspicion towards Mr Tsang remains strong in business and political quarters, particularly in the pro-Beijnig camp. [my emphasis]

If this is confusing, you're not alone. Democratic Party leader Martin Lee flip-flopped over the need for a Beijing interpretation on the CE's term. Another example: one potential candidate is Leung Chun-ying, says The Standard. Interesting, because page 3 of the SCMP has a headline reading "Leung Chun-ying rules himself out".

A two year term is a political expediency, albeit a short-sighted one. While the probationary CE will be elected by the 800 strong Election Committee, the door remains open for democrats to push for a broader committee for 2007/8 or even universal suffrage. The democrats are quixotically considering putting a candidate forward to advance their cause. It is irrelevant. The experiment of having a tycoon run Hong Kong didn't work out, so China is reverting to the pattern the British used so successfully. Civil servants and technocrats will run the place, answerable to the capital of the motherland. Hong Kong's Chief Executive has only one master thousands of miles away, rather than 6.7 million masters living in the city. The CE rules at Beijing's pleasure and can be dismissed at their pleasure. The message is clear to any potential candidates and the people of Hong Kong.

Reaction and updates

* Tom has a good overview of the state of play and suggests take Ma Lik's advice and chill for a bit... because the theater in the next few weeks have little to do with democracy and will have little bearing on the facade of "one country, two systems", but it might be as entertaining as "War and Beauty".
* Stephen Vines discusses Beijing pulling the strings.
(14:10) * Simon Parker at Asia Times recaps events.
(17:23) * Tom covers more reaction and prepares to enjoy the show.
* Yan is ambivalent about the next CE given she and the rest of Hong Kong have no say in the matter.
(21:41) * Spike also isn't impressed by Tung nor his successor, and contemplates potential Tung nostalgia in the future.