G20 handshake: did Xi Jinping just give John Tsang the nod to run for Hong Kong’s top job?
Financial Secretary confirms exchanging greetings with Chinese leader at G20 summit in Hangzhou but little else
Hong Kong’s finance minister on Tuesday played down the significance of his recent handshake and brief exchange with President Xi Jinping, saying it had been overly interpreted, and dismissing speculation it could be a nod from Beijing to become the city’s next leader.
In a city that watches every signal from China’s leaders when Hong Kong’s top officials visit the mainland, John Tsang Chun-wah’s encounter with the president has got the rumour mill spinning over the possibility of the financial secretary receiving Beijing’s blessing to challenge incumbent Leung Chun-ying in next year’s chief executive election.
On his return on Tuesday from the G20 summit in Hangzhou, Tsang confirmed he had brief chat with Xi during a banquet on Sunday.
“At the banquet, I had a brief chat with President Xi and we mainly talked about issues related to the G20 summit,” Tsang said. “I also thanked President Xi for inviting us to participate.”
When asked whether they spoke about next year’s leadership election, Tsang clarified: “We did not talk about anything else.”
But the financial secretary sidestepped the question when asked whether Xi had selectively approached him and offered a handshake. “It is normal for people to shake hands upon meeting,” Tsang said.
